Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “Happy TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH to everyone! And even though it’s almost halfway through, there is plenty more history to do!”
On August 1, Mayor London Breed joined elected and city officials and community members to raise the TRANSGENDER FLAG at City Hall in honor of San Francisco’s TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH. “San Francisco has been, and always will be a place where we embrace our diverse communities to ensure everyone has the freedom to be who they are without scrutiny,” said Mayor Breed. “Last year we declared August Transgender History Month in San Francisco, making it our country’s first of its kind. We are setting a new standard that celebrates the history and cultural milestones of transgender people in this city. Today and the entire month of August reflect the resilience of the transgender community and our city’s commitment to supporting and protecting the rights of trans people.”
Transgender History Month honors the 56th anniversary of the COMPTON’S CAFETERIA RIOTS, which occurred in August 1966 in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, marking the beginning of transgender activism in San Francisco. A response to violent and constant police harassment, this incident was one of the first LGBTQ uprisings in United States history, preceding the better-known 1969 STONEWALL RIOTS in New York City. The Tenderloin is now home to THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT, created in 2018 as Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, the nation’s first legally recognized district dedicated to the transgender, nonbinary, and intersex community.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES and THE ACADEMY presented DIVAS & DRINKS: iHEART SUMMER! on July 29 at The Academy with hosts Betty Sullivan, Jennifer Viegas, and Nate Bourg and emcee Donna Sachet to toast and thank the many volunteers who supported the SF PRIDE PARADE. SF Pride President Carolyn Wysinger and other inspiring voices were with us; plus the remarkable iHeart Radio star DJ Christie James got us dancing. Sister Dana was honored with a lovely bottle of cabernet sauvignon. As everyone knows, Sister Dana LOVES his red wine!
UP YOUR ALLEY FAIR (also known back in the day as “Dore Alley Fair”) was staged as usual in the SOMA at 9th and Folsom Streets (off Dore Alley) on July 31, noon to 6 pm. All manner of attire was on display—from leather to feather to rubber and everything in-between. Some chose full nudity with free-range boners. Animals (both four-legged and human) roamed about. One of my fave info booths was SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER with a spin the wheel to win shwag. BARE CHEST CALENDAR Boys were boldly bare-chestedly autographing their particular months. There was free online PrEP and STI testing via MISTR (see page 9 of this issue for more about MISTR). The fair was kind of “nothing new under the sun,” or has Sister Dana maybe just become too jaded?!
Sister Dana sez, “The first defendant to go on trial in the Justice Dept.’s Capitol riot inquiry was sentenced to more than seven years in prison. Here’s hoping for much MORE than that for Trump and his chief traitors!”
It is great to know that Senator Scott Wiener has been appointed by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) to chair the recently-formed SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON MONKEYPOX. Finally, California is doing something about this epidemic! Also appointed as members of the committee are Senators Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), and Richard Pan (D-Sacramento). “Monkeypox is a public health emergency, and we need to do everything we can to contain the outbreak,” said Senator Wiener. “Monkeypox is a painful and serious infection, and no one should have to endure it. We need to ensure California’s response, at both the state and local level, is effective and adequately funded. Our community is depending on us to deliver.” With the Select Committee on Monkeypox, the Senate will have the opportunity to identify what can be done in the short and medium terms to improve California’s response to the ongoing outbreak. Through this Committee, the Senate will convene experts from different professional and community backgrounds to discuss what can be done long-term to better respond to outbreaks of contagious viruses.
“I am grateful to our Public Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip for declaring this State of Emergency,” said SF Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “In the face of a frustratingly slow federal response, it is all the more important that we be able to mobilize all available local resources to get vaccines into arms as quickly and equitably as possible.”
Also, finally the United States declared a public health emergency on August 4 as monkeypox surged to 7,101 cases, signaling that the outbreak poses a significant threat to Americans.
The RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) brought us Help Is On The Way XXVI: BROADWAY& BEYOND on August 7 at Marines’ Memorial Theatre as a benefit for PROJECT OPEN HAND and REAF’S SMALL EMERGENCY GRANTS PROGRAM. This 26th Annual Gala—Northern CA’s largest annual, star-studded concert—is produced by the inimitable duo of Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler. The evening featured stellar singers (in alphabetical order) Debby Boone, Leanne Borghesi, Garrett Clayton, Ava Nicole Frances, Julie Garnye, Jason Graae, Steve Knill, emcee and singer Shawn Ryan, Sally Struthers, Lisa Viggiano, Paula West, and John Lloyd Young. I was especially pleased that Borghesi and Ryan (friends of mine over the years of REAF shows) both received special awards for their ongoing dedicated service). The elegant VIP after-party with meet and greet the cast was at the new Beacon Grand Hotel. For info about REAF: https://www.reaf-sf.org
Sister Dana sez, “We can’t let archaic Senate rules get in the way of progress any longer. We have just 4 months to pass MORE important bills before Republicans TAKE BACK the Senate, according to Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight. We must bust the filibuster! NOW!”
SOMA SECOND SATURDAY is August 13, 1 pm to 5 pm. Join everyone on 12th Street between Eagle Plaza and Folsom Street to shop with some of the finest queer and kink artists, artisans, and craftspeople. Beverages are available at the SF Eagle, including Beer Bust from 3–6 pm. Refresh your “wardrobe” at the Rough Trade Gear Swap. Visit the bootblack boy Zander and more. https://tinyurl.com/msv3uw8
To win the almighty Ms. Sinema’s support for President Biden’s Climate Bill, Democratic leaders had to agree to drop a $14 billion tax increase on some wealthy hedge fund managers and private equity executives that she had opposed, change the structure of a 15 percent minimum tax on corporations, and include drought money to benefit Arizona. Golly gee, Mistress Sinema, can we bend over any more for you or kiss your butt any better? Why don’t you marry Joe Manchin, just become the true Republican couple you really are, and stop screwing us?!
RUNWAY is the highlight event by GLBTQ+ ASIAN PACIFIC ALLIANCE (GAPA). The annual pageant celebrates visibility and representation of the queer and trans Asian & Pacific Islander (API) community. It offers a stage for them to celebrate their artistry as well as their ability to express their most authentic selves. First started over 30 years ago, Runway, (HARMONIC CONVERGENCE) has evolved along with the needs of the queer & trans API community in its full diversity, featuring not only cis gay males, in and out of drag, but also women, transgender, and gender nonconforming siblings. Saturday, August 13, 7 pm, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness. https://www.gapa.org/
LOCKDOWN COMEDY on Zoom is now in its 3rd year! Zoom in and laugh along with me! On Thursday, August 18, 7 pm, it features Greg Proops (NY), Wendy Liebman (LA), Ngaio Bealum (Sacramento), “The Geduldig Sisters”—producer Lisa Geduldig (SF), and her 91-years-young mother, Arline Geduldig (Florida). https://www.koshercomedy.com/
Peaches Christ makes her triumphant return to Live Performance at the Castro Theatre, August 27, 4 pm & 8 pm in The Highly Anticipated Return of DRAG BECOMES HER – a hysterical theatrical parody of the 1992 camp-classic DEATH BECOMES HER. When a novelist (BenDeLaCreme) loses her man (Major Scales) to a Drag Race star (Jinkx Monsoon) and former friend, she winds up in a psychiatric hospital. Years later, she returns home to confront her friend who is looking radiant—having taken a mysterious drug she got from a witch (Peaches Christ) that grants eternal life to the person who drinks it. She follows suit, but discovers that immortality has a heavy (but I might add: hilarious) price. https://www.peacheschrist.com/
Sister Dana sez, “Famous pop singer DEMI LOVATO came out as nonbinary and adopted ‘they/them’ pronouns more than a year ago. But now she is back to ‘she/her.’ Regardless, Sister Dana has always been ‘he/she/it,’ but NEVER EVER ‘Them!’ Because as a former teacher at Cal State Hayward, I would never use a plural pronoun with a singular subject. I’m sorry: but however politically correct that might be—it would be grammatically incorrect for me!”
Published on August 11, 2022
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