By Sister Dana Van Iquity, Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun —
Sister Dana sez, “Every December First is always WORLD AIDS DAY. And every day we must realize that AIDS is NOT OVER!”
For the eighth consecutive year the public is invited to come to San Francisco’s Castro Street on December 1, WORLD AIDS DAY, to participate in INSCRIBE, a community sidewalk chalk art event. Created and coordinated by community activist George Kelly, INSCRIBE is The Castro’s colorful celebration of life, love, and memories honoring the millions of people who died of AIDS globally, and paying special tribute to the men and women who died of AIDS who called The Castro home. 400 and 500 Castro Street blocks, 9 am–9 pm.
I was privileged to see the special preview screening of SPOILER ALERT at the Castro Theatre on November 14. What a treat to see the movie’s co-stars Jim Parson and Ben Aldridge, along with the author of his memoir book, SPOILER ALERT: THE HERO DIES, Michael Ausiellio. The evening was hosted by FRAMELINE. For this special showing, we were given little packages of tissues—because YES, you will cry! This amazing film is a heartwrenching, heartwarming, funny, tear-jerking, and life-affirming story of how two gay men’s relationship is transformed and deepened when one of them falls ill. It features the incredible Sally Field as the mother and eventual mother-in-law. The movie screens in select theaters on December 2, and goes nationwide on December 16. This is the slogan telling it all: “Love never stops surprising you, Even when you know how it ends.” Do not miss this! And do take a hankie!
THE COCKETTES are storming Oakland with their delicious ETERNAL EMISSIONS cabaret show at PianoFight Oakland (1540 Broadway) on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4, at 7:30 pm. Featuring witty, naughty, marvelous musical numbers made famous by the Cockettes drag troupe. Members of the Original Cockettes in Person!
The Senate took a crucial step on November 16 toward protecting SAME-SEX MARRIAGE RIGHTS, with 12 Republicans joining all the Democrats to advance a landmark bill. The 62–37 vote showed an incredible shift in American politics and culture, demonstrating how same-sex marriage—once a politically divisive issue, has been so widely accepted. Sister Dana sez, “I fantasize the House passing this by a huge majority. Yeah, I know—it’s only a fantasy!”
Congratulations to Karen Bass, a veteran California congresswoman, who won the mayoral race, becoming the first woman and second African-American elected to lead the nation’s second-largest city, Los Angeles. She survived a bruising race against Rick Caruso—a billionaire real estate developer—that had remained too close to call for more than a week after the election. Bass promises quick action on homelessness in L.A.
As the song goes: “Make your yuletide gay!” This December, SFGMC (SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS) rings in the holiday season with its much-anticipated annual tradition, HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR. ‘Tis the season for the warm, familiar traditions of years gone by—and for resolutions new and more hopeful. Expect the entertaining flair, fun, and heart that the Chorus always delivers with holiday favorites, including “Jingle Bells” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (the most depressing carol I’ve ever known); lighthearted originals, including a holiday-themed Cher medley (yes, I said CHER!); and classical choral works including “Sure on this Shining Night.” December 2 and 3 at Sydney Goldstein Theatre; and in addition on December 24 for Christmas Eve (three times) at the Castro Theatre. https://www.sfgmc.org/
Where are we headed in the LGBTQ movement? Join movement leaders in this important virtual discussion, hosted annually by HORIZONS FOUNDATION, moderated by Horizons President Roger Doughty on December 6, 5–6:30 pm. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3kcwzmzw
SONGS OF THE SEASON is back and in-person at Feinstein’s at the Nikko. It’s a magical, merry, and mirthful evening celebrating the holiday season with sass on Tuesday, December 6, and Wednesday, December 7, 7 pm. Now in its 30th year, this benefit supporting PRC returns with star-studded talent, curated and hosted by Billboard Recording Artist Brian Kent and emceed by the fabulous Donna Sachet. https://prcsf.org/
PROJECT OPEN HAND‘s mission is to improve health outcomes and quality of life by providing nutritious meals to the sick and vulnerable in San Francisco and Alameda counties. Their food is like medicine, helping their clients recover from illness, get stronger, and lead healthier lives. Every day they prepare 2,500 nutritious meals and 200 bags of healthy groceries to help sustain their clients as they battle serious illnesses, isolation, or the health challenges of aging. They are celebrating 30 YEARS OF HAND TO HAND on December 9, 7–10 pm at The Hibernia, 1 Jones Street. Among the honorees recognized will be “Ruth Brinker Visionary Award” to Bill Hirsh and “Most Outstanding Community Partner Award” to the (organization) Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF) and (individual) Bau Ky. https://www.openhand.org/
Sister Dana sez, “House Republicans have made it quite clear that they will refuse to lift the debt ceiling unless they can force cuts to SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. It’s not an idle threat: They mean it, and have reiterated it multiple times.”
The Good News is that the nearly 17-million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—also known as the Mormon church—announced that it supports the RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT, a bill that would codify the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in any state by other states and the federal government. The Bad News is that the church said in a statement that it continues to oppose same-sex relationships. But it cited religious freedom protections in the Senate version of the bill as “the way forward.” Sister Dana sez, “No, it’s backwards, and thanks for nothing, Morms!”
Take four San Francisco drag legends, cast them in two parody Xmas episodes of the uproarious TV show, The Golden Girls, and you have the perfect holiday event, THE GOLDEN GIRLS LIVE! In what has become a yearly tradition, this drag send-up and heartfelt tribute to the characters the entire world has come to know and love, features local drag stars: Heklina (Dorothy), Matthew Martin (Blanche), D’Arcy Drollinger (Rose), and Holotta Tymes (Sophia). Also featuring Manuel Caneri and Michael Phillis with Tom Shaw on the piano. Now through December 23 at the Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street. “Thank you for being a friend.” https://www.thegoldengirlslive.com/
Sister Dana sez, “Since Elon ‘Muck’ is allowing Trump back on Twitter, we can expect to again be bombarded with the constant squawks of that hateful, racist, narcissistic orange autocrat. They’re both a pair of twits (purposely NOT a typo for ‘tweets’)!
Queers and friends of queers everywhere are mourning and raging at the senseless, horrendous, hateful murder of five LBGTQ people shot dead and more than two dozen injured overnight November 20, of all times TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE at Club Q in Colorado Springs. Huge thanks to the two heroic customers for stopping the shooter from committing any more violence! The U.S.’s first openly gay Governor Jared Polis called this as “horrific, sickening, and devastating.” He exhorted, “Colorado stands with our LGBTQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn together!” The shooting brought back memories of the 2016 massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012, and at a Boulder supermarket last year.
HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB held a powerful candlelight vigil for Club Q in Harvey Milk Plaza on November 20: STAND UP AGAINST HATE and STOP ANTI-LGBTQ VIOLENCE were the themes. Milk Club Vice President Jeffrey Kwong welcomed us. SF GAY MEN’S CHORUS emotionally sang “May God Hold You in the Palm of His Hand.” Among the fiery speakers were Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, and Drag King activist Alex U. Inn. We dispersed properly engaged to fight!
Sister Dana sez, “Let’s include together with the murderer those anti-LGBTQ and anti-gun control Congresspeople and radical right-wingers who stoke this violence every day! THEY are killing us!
I really enjoyed the 21 SEEDS infused tequila DRAG FRIENDSGIVING EXTRAVAGANZA with the always awesome Juanita MORE! on November 17 at Casements bar as a benefit for Mama G’s Thanksgiving Street Dinner. Sipping on specialty tequila cocktails, I delighted in the lively, talented drag performances of Dulce De Leche, Mary Vice, and Mojo.
We joined the HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB for its annual MILK/MOSCONE vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza on November 27. Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were the brightest beacons of hope for San Francisco’s disenfranchised and displaced. But more than that, they represented the spirit of San Francisco, a city for anyone and everyone, meant to be welcoming to all, with justice for all. They were both assassinated 44 years ago. Part of the vigil was also a dedication to the five victims of CLUB Q with Milk Club members reading their eulogies. Banners had been hung from the railing with black and white photos of Harvey Milk and George Moscone with the words: “Forever in Our Hearts,” as well as “Act now to stop anti-LGBTQ hate!” We listened awe-struck to the recording of Milk’s chilling premonition of his violent death. Among the many emotional speakers were Milk Club Vice President Jeffrey Kwong, Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, BART Director Bevan Dufty, story hour reader to children Drag Queen Persia,and veteran activists Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver and Gwenn Craig.
Sister Dana sez, “In California, more than 10% of Legislature now identifies as LGBTQ. That’s something to be really proud of!”
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on December 1, 2022
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