By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “Ding! Dong! The Witch is dead! And his evil flying monkeys will be fleeing from the White House!”
Democratic activist Sarah McBride will become the nation’s first person who publicly identifies as transgender to serve as a state senator, after winning the November 3 election in Delaware. Congratulations to McBride, a former spokesperson for the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN. Her stunning win also makes her Delaware’s first out LGBTQ person elected to the state’s legislature.
Big queer congratulations also go to Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones, two young progressive candidates from New York, who became the first two openly gay Black men elected to Congress after they were declared winners in their House races.
Sister Dana sez, “Apparently our ‘Gay Agenda’ to achieve ‘World Domination’ is finally coming to reality. But don’t worry, heterosexuals, we will save a place for you at the table!”
“In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted,” said President–elect Joe Biden. “Proving once again that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.” He concluded, “With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.”
DRAG OUT THE VOTE did an incredible job getting folx to the polls! DOTV’s national co-chairs set the blueprint for this program with their personal activism. Kudos to Brita Filter of RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE Season 12, Jaremi Carey (also known as Phi Phi O’Hara) of Season 4 and All-Stars 2, and Marti G. Cummings, prominent drag performer, activist, and passionate organizer in NYC. Many thanks to so many other hardworking DQs who got people to sashay away to the voting booths!
Sister Dana sez, “Since T-rump fired Mark Esper, Defense Secretary who opposed use of force on peaceful protesters, are the CIA and FBI next to go? Do we feel any safer?! Madness!”
Patti LaBelle, Grammy Award-winning music legend, was recipient of this year’s SYLVESTER COMMUNITY PILLAR AWARD. She joined PRC for an intimate evening of song and celebration, MIGHTY REAL, online on November 7. Meanwhile, just outside my door, the Castro was alive with music and speeches booming out to the masked crowd of celebrants of the mighty Biden/Harris triumph. I joined them after this show. Special guests made appearances for PRC. Mayor London Breed opened the show lauding PRC and its work. The mission of PRC (formerly POSITIVE RESOURCE CENTER)is to help people affected by HIV/AIDS, substance use, or mental health issues to better realize opportunities by providing integrated legal, social, and health services that address the broad range of social risk factors that impact wellness and limit potential. The fundraiser will provide 5,700 clients with service. Memoir writer André Leon Talley spoke of Patti’s incredible history—being in the first Black singing group, LaBelle, to perform at The Met; her solo career launch in 1977 with “New Attitude” topping the charts; and her amazing civil rights activism. Talley introduced the headliner to bring us to tears with her stirring version of the gay anthem, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Donna Sachet, who has worked with PRC for over twenty years—as well as hosting the ever popular annual PRIDE BRUNCH with Gary Virginia—led the auction and fund-a-need portion of the production with grace and conviction (coaxing those dollars from donors).
PRC CEO Brett Andrews spoke of the goal during the pandemic to “be even more inclusive with the commonality of our shared concerns.” He urged, “Let the fabulousness of this evening wash over you!” Believe me, it did! Board President Brian Schneider applauded the staff and volunteers, as well as the grateful clients. Whoopi Goldberg testified at what an awesome activist, sensational singer, and good friend Patti is to her. “She makes us all feel mighty real,” Whoopi gushed. Patti thanked PRC for this wonderful honor and said, “I feel like the angel Sylvester is looking down upon us!” It should be noted that the estate of Sylvester is thankfully a very large donor to PRC. Patti sang a special song to Sylvester, taking us all to church with his hit, “You Are My Friend.” Cyndi Lauper praised PRC and Sylvester while sending her love to LaBelle and introducing the chanteuse to belt out her classic “Lady Marmalade.” Patti sang those scandalous lyrics: “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?” But this nun also kinda felt that she was singing to me: “Hey sister, soul sister, go sister, flow sister!” This sister thanks you, Lady LaBelle, for absolutely everything!
We animal lovers are overjoyed that POTUS Joe Biden and his FLOTUS, Jill, will bring a couple of canines with them to the White House. Even better: One of them will be the first shelter DOTUS in history!
Sister Dana sez, “Trump was the first president in a century to NOT have a dog. That’s because he already had Giuliani!”
Bye-bye Orange One! Wanna give The Rump a proper parody hilarious sendoff to the tune of “The Stars and Stripes Forever”? https://tinyurl.com/y3t673lj
Alas the SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY is canceling all live performances through June 30, 2021, because of the global pandemic. The cancellation officially puts an end to any in-performance music-making through the entire 2020–21 season, the first to feature Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director. Concerts for fall 2020 had been called off in June 2020.
TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE (TDOR) is November 20. In the United States alone, there have been 34 reported killings of transgender and gender-expansive individuals this year. Most of them were Black and Brown transgender women. Even these numbers likely understate the true count of those lost to anti-trans violence this year. Here is a resource to help honor this day: https://rb.gy/980oo1
RIP Bambi Lake, October 20, 1950–November 4, 2020. Bambi was an out loud and proud Trans chanteuse who wrote and sang big bold productions that drew us fans to her sometimes dark and sometimes lighthearted music.
Join Mr. and Ms. GAPA ROYALTY at online Runway 2020, RISE OF THE IMMORTALS on November 21, 7 pm. It will celebrate Runway’s 33-year history and re-imagine Runway for years to come. GAPA RUNWAY 2020 promises to capture the spirit, creativity, and pageantry of this annual celebration of the community. https://www.gapa.org/
Sister Dana sez, “We can win a Democratic Senate if Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff both win their special elections in Georgia on January 5. Let’s start working towards these victories!”
If you want to get involved in the GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFFS, there are regular phone-banking opportunities between now and the January 5 election. https://demvolctr.org/events/
The Biden transition team has named several LGBTQ people to oversee and review various public agencies—and transgender veteran Shawn Skelly has been tapped as part of the group that will evaluate the DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
Out gay Latino Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is reportedly toward the top of the list to fill the Senate seat being vacated by the Vice President-Elect. And the “Gay Agenda” keeps on rolling along!
QUEER NIGHTLIFE FUND presented another fascinating Zoom panel on November 10, HOW DO YOU LIVE WITHOUT THE PARTY? This was a moderated public forum with two guest mental health professionals on the specific issues facing queer nightlife workers as well as the queer community at large. This was hosted by Angel of QNF with two psychologists from the Leather Community, Angelique L. Burke aka “Big Red” and International Mr. Leather 2017 Ralph Bruneau. Three topics specially stood out for me regarding Covid and SIP. Skin-hunger is the lack of touch or even a hug from another person. Screen fatigue comes from living our lives on nothing but ‘puter monitors and TV screens—hour after hour after hour. We considered an old 1989 movie I have loved for years, Longtime Companion—now available on Netflix. During the 1980s, a group of gay men and their straight female friend confront the spread of AIDS. Soon it becomes clear that a pandemic is underway in the gay community. So timely for this 2020 pandemic, the characters imagine what life might be if and when a vaccine is discovered, and life will return to normal. https://www.facebook.com/sfqueernightlifefund
After a 3-way tie runoff, SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE has its official 2021 theme: ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
OVERLOOKED LATINAS is a livestreamed delightful screwball RomComDramawritten and performed by soloist Tina D’Elia perfectly performing over a dozen individuals during the McCarthy era. Characters include Angel trying to green-light a TV series of the same name, her wife, sperm donor gay Ramon Navarro, Dolores Del Rio, Lupe Velez, a male producer, and more. Everything wraps up with a surprise ending. http://therhino.org/
WORLD AIDS DAY 2020, “A National Conversation,” is online on December 1 from 10 am to 12 pm to bring together powerful voices from both AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics for an important conversation about health, justice, social activism, remembrance, hope, and resilience. Event is free. (Read more on page 10 of this issue.) https://www.aidsmemorial.org/wad2020
Sister Dana sez, “Thanksgiving is November 26. But I prefer to call it ‘THANKS-GAYING,’ because I Thank God I’m Gay: TGIG!”
Published on November 19, 2020
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