By Sister Dana Van Iquity, Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “August is TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH. So do your history homework and find out why trans pioneers stood up for human rights! Start with COMPTON’S CAFETERIA RIOT 1966!”
Celebrated throughout the month of August in San Francisco, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH was legally recognized by Mayoral Proclamation. It is a month in which Transgender San Franciscans honor the rich history and contributions of transgender history-makers, pioneers, and trailblazers, and it affirms the ongoing presence of transgender people in San Francisco and around the world. In 2021, activist Jupiter Peraza and THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT led the advocacy efforts to recognize the month of August as “Transgender History Month” in the City and County of San Francisco. With the support of the City and County of SF’s OFFICE OF TRANSGENDER INITIATIVES (OTI) and THE WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF CALIFORNIA, Ms. Peraza and The Transgender District advocated to the Mayor and then received full support for the commemorative month.
Mayor London Breed signed and declared by proclamation on August 24, 2021, every month of August in SF as “Transgender History Month.” The Transgender District in SF is the first legally recognized transgender district in the world and one of the first in the U.S. to become a Sanctuary City for transgender people!
At a celebration on August 1 at City Hall, Mayor Breed joined State Senator Scott Wiener, city leaders, advocates, and members of the transgender community to kick off San Francisco’s 3rd annual Transgender History Month. The event began with a beautiful transgender flag raising ceremony on the Mayor’s outdoor balcony, followed by an exciting speaking program and reception. Days later on August 5, an impressive transgender flag raising ceremony was held at California State Capitol, Sacramento.
Opera Parallèle has joined forces with THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT to present “EXPANSIVE.” The program, August 8 and 9, 7:30 pm at the A.C.T. Strand Theater in San Francisco, will feature nonbinary and transgender artists in concert. Among the performers are Lucas Bouk, Wilford Kelly, and Queen Angelina. Afrika America will accompany at the piano. Opera Parallèle has commissioned a song by Joy Redmond and Kimberly Reed that will be interpreted by Bouk. “We are so thrilled for the third annual ‘Expansive’ show in collaboration with Opera Parallèle,” stated Transgender District Co-Executive Directors Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga. “By featuring transgender and gender-expansive talent in the classical music field, we center these talented individuals who are making it possible for others who are often overlooked. To host two performances that showcase our talent and joy means so much to us, and we hope the public will come and bask in the greatness of our trans existence.”
For more celebrations of TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH, go to:
https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/
The SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES and THE ACADEMY SF held DIVAS & DRINKS at The Academy for “SF PRIDE and PARIS SUMMER OLYMPICS” on July 26, where we cheered Olympians and SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE leadership—since their staff and volunteers had achieved such a massively-attended, very peaceful, and tremendously joyous “2024 Pride Parade and Festival”! THE SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE BAND and CHEER SF helped gaily celebrate SF Pride leaders and volunteers along with we who continuously support the San Francisco Bay Times. The iconic Donna Sachet emceed the evening that also included a “Summer Olympics Opening Night Ceremony Watch Party” upstairs and a vivacious After Party led by iHeartRadio star DJ Christie James. That eventful evening we honored the amazing Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford and Pride Board President Nguyen Pham. Also honored was co-creator of OPENHOUSE, Marcy Adelman, who received an actual Market Street Pride Flag—because her house and precious flag had recently burned down. The Pride Band played “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Rise Up,” and Donna soloing “If They Could See Me Now”—accompanied by CHEER SF doing fancy, rousing cheerleading routines. Their closing act was SF Pride Band Leader Mike Wong singing along with the band to their classic “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Oakland’s powerhouse singer, Tory Teasley, who designed the SF Pride’s official logo, “Beacon of Love,” sang that titled song among several other emotional numbers. Her message: “Love radically, and freedom from repression for all!” Among the awesome speakers were SF TRANSGENDER DISTRICT’s Honey Mahogany, with San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney, Mayor London Breed, and Senator Scott Wiener presenting extraordinary certificates of recognition.
At the time when she was California Senator Kamala Harris, at her January 28, 2019, speech announcing her run for the U.S. presidency in Oakland, California, then Senator Harris said, “I am not perfect. But I will always speak with decency and moral clarity, and treat all people with dignity and respect. I will lead with integrity, and I will speak the truth.”
On July 22, 2024, California Representative Robert Garcia stated, “She has always focused in her campaigns about being ‘for the people.’ She used to say when she was Attorney General that her main client was always ‘for the people.’”
Just look at the record Vice President Harris has made when serving with President Joe Biden on infrastructure, on lowering the price of insulin, on supporting students, and on fighting for women’s reproductive healthcare. Those are the issues she will continue to focus on as President—while always being “for the people.”
Way back in August 2023 on an MSNBC-TV news broadcast, Vice President Kamala Harris had emphasized, “Democracy will only be as strong as our willingness to fight for it!”
Much later during all the turmoil, on July 22, 2024, President Biden phoned in at the Wilmington, Delaware, Campaign Headquarters, saying, in part, “The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all!” And his Vice President Harris had nothing but praise for President Biden and all he has accomplished, promising to carry on with those and more. Harris pointed out that, when she was a courtroom prosecutor and next a California Attorney General, she “took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women; fraudsters who ripped off consumers; cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain.” Showing a wicked sense of humor, she added, “So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type!” And she passionately repeated that at her West Allis, Wisconsin, rally the very next day. We will be hearing this a lot during her ongoing campaign.
Sister Dana sez, “Kamala Harris is love; she is progress; she is ON FIRE!!”
Keith Freedman, an openly proud gay man and a friend of mine, is running for Mayor of San Francisco. He started working for mayoral candidacy last November and filed for it in April. Freeman has a vision for elevating San Francisco: THE RISING TIDE INITIATIVE aims to restore San Francisco to its rightful place as one of the world’s greatest cities by addressing the primary issue holding it back: homelessness. His mission is to elevate all San Franciscans, starting with our unhoused citizens, through comprehensive supportive housing solutions. “We propose converting retired cruise ships into permanent housing, securely moored to land. These ships will no longer be seaworthy and will be transformed into long-term residences,” he elaborated. “Each stateroom offers a spacious private home with private bathrooms, allowing residents to maintain their dignity and privacy as they rebuild their lives. High end estimates to acquire and retrofit the smaller cruise ship is around $250 million. To contrast this, building 2,000 units of affordable housing will cost around $2.3 billion.” Freedman continued, “Even more exciting, cruise ships can be move-in ready in 3–6 months, whereas affordable housing takes years to build.” There is so much more exciting at https://mayor.keithfreedman.com/
Sister Dana sez, “I repeat that NO, you MAGA maggots and especially House Squeaker Mike Johnson, it was NOT breaking states laws to switch names on presidential ballots. Kamala Harris’ name WILL be PRINTED on ALL 50 ballots!”
What is DEI? “Diversity” refers to the representation of people from a variety of backgrounds—particularly referring to people of different races, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, religions and more—at all levels in an organization, including the leadership level. “Equity” focuses on fairness and justice, particularly referring to compensation and whether people are being paid or treated fairly. “Inclusion” is about whether people feel like they belong, and whether they feel heard or valued in an organization. Sister Dana sez, “DEI has recently come under fire, and is at the center of political battles being waged by Repugnican governors Ron Duh Santis and Greg Ab-butt, and other RepubliCan’t politicos. So, we know for sure that DEI is a GOOD thing!”
A twice-yearly injection could help prevent HIV infections, according to the recent results of a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine on July 24. In a trial involving more than 5,000 young women and girls in South Africa and Uganda, none of those who received the prevention shots contracted HIV. https://tinyurl.com/sfsk7b2j
Sister Dana sez, “These results could be the breakthrough against AIDS that we have ALL been waiting for and longing for since the 1980s!”
During his July 26 rally in West Point Palm Beach, Florida, at “Turning Point Action,” autocrat Trump showed the world how when he got elected President, it would be for life, brazenly saying, “Christians, get out and vote—just this time! You won’t have to do it anymore. It will be fixed. It will be fine.” Sister Dana sez, “It will NOT be fine. It would be a nightmare for democracy. By the way, Trump can’t even hold up a Bible properly—so how dare this demon address supposed Christians?!”
Sister Dana sez, “Have voters noticed how WEIRD the Trump–Vance campaign is getting lately? ‘Childless cat ladies’ and ‘no need to vote,’ for example. WEIRD!”
You might want to celebrate our SF Mayor London Breed’s fabulous 50th Birthday with a community happy hour in the new Entertainment Zone on August 9, 5–7 pm, Harrington’s Bar & Grill, 245 Front Street. Tickets required, so RSVP at bit.ly/londonbreed50
The drag kings are again taking over the stage at Oasis in STAR TREK LIVE! In their version of The Way to Eden, The Enterprise is host to some unruly guests—space hippies in search of planetary paradise. Kirk has trouble maintaining order amongst the visitors, but Mr. Spock seems strangely sympathetic towards them. Leigh Crow stars as the world’s only female William Shatner impersonator as Captain Kirk. August 8–31, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 298 Eleventh Street. https://www.sfoasis.com/
LAURIE ROLDAN SINGS A SONG FOR YOU is a Cabaret Concert inspired by the music of Karen Carpenter, starring Laurie Roldan as Carpenter. Laurie shares personal stories and memories in a delightful evening woven through well-known Carpenters hit songs. This is a limited engagement—just 2 shows, benefiting 42ND STREET MOON: August 17, 7 pm, and August 25, 3 pm, at The Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson Street.
https://42ndstmoon.org/
Vice President Kamala Harris has become the Democrats’ 2024 Presidential nominee after winning enough delegates in a virtual roll call on August 2. Just four days later, she announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. The 2024 Democratic National Convention is Monday, August 19–Thursday, August 22.
Sister Dana sez, “It would have been fabulous to have had an openly proud, loud, gay Vice President such as Pete Buttigieg! But may I give congratulations to newly declared Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate Walz!”
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on August 8, 2024
Recent Comments