By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “How do you honor NATIVE AMERICAN MONTH? Acknowledge what Native land your office (or home) is on. First things first—do you KNOW what Indigenous lands you’re living and working on?”
President Joe Biden issued on October 29, 2021, a proclamation designating November 2021 as “National Native American Heritage Month.” Every year on November 1, NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH is celebrated to honor the remarkable Native Americans who have contributed a lot to improve the character of the nation. This month is also referred to as the American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. This year’s theme is “Recognizing 100 Years of Citizenship and the Fight for the Right to Vote: 1924–2024.” During Native American Heritage Month, it is important not just to celebrate the legacy that Indigenous history makers have left, but also to celebrate those who continue to shape our society, lead their communities, and impact our culture today.
Sister Dana sez, “For Native Americans, the fight for sovereignty isn’t just about self-governance—it includes the fight for water, land, education, employment, cultural preservation, and health care!”
On October 25 at Laveen Village, AZ, reservation, President Biden made an official apology “long overdue” for 150 years of the horribly abusive Native American Indian boarding school system and the systemic separation of Native American families from their children, where they were often physically and emotionally abused. This terrible practice did not end until 1970. Biden added, “I’m proud that our administration has created 200,000 Native American jobs.”
Since we Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI) and the Bears of San Francisco (BOSF) had produced the 4TH ANNUAL BEARRISON STREET FAIR on Saturday, October 19, it was only proper that THIS LAME NUN attend—if only on a wheeled walker with attached seat. I enjoyed all the burly amusement, including the fan-favorite wrestling stage and the buns-out dead-lift competition. Not to mention watching, but not participating (obviously), in the Bouncing Booties Twerk-Off Contest. I loved the stage with everything from live entertainment to the Drag Contest to the Mustache and Beard Contest. Although I did not enter the Beard Contest—even though I had not shaved since my awful fall and ankle-mangle on August 12 forcing an admittance to Davies ER; so, after all those months, my looong beard became quite poetic: it was a Longfellow! Har. But summing up: Bearrison was a blast, baby!!! https://www.bearrison.org/
Hosted by Honey Mahogany and Sister Roma, REUNION was an opportunity to gather to celebrate our vast queer past, honor the history makers who move our communities forward, and raise funds to keep LGBTQ history alive! Traditionally held in October to coincide with LGBTQ History Month, “Reunion” is the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY’s annual Gala. This year’s event included a reception, awards presentations, a buffet dinner, silent auction, and the opportunity to connect with a wide range of LGBTQ history supporters. It was held at Marines’ Memorial Club and Hotel on October 19. Honey and Roma kept the party going with humor and announcing important bios of guests. This dynamic duo brought to the stage the amazing coloratura soprano gloriousness of Brianna Sinclairé singing
classic opera as well as an awesome version of “Summertime” from Gershwin’s 1934 aria to Porgy & Bess. Luscious! Mayor London Breed spoke of the September 2024 announcement of the new site of GLBT Museum’s permanent home in the Castro, where they are entering the next chapter for their mission and work. The unanimous SF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS later signed off on the deal on October 29. The GLBT HS will need to raise additional funds to cover the cost of construction and renovation, and they intend to own the site in the future.
“History Maker Award Presentations” were presented by GLBT HS Board Chair Ben Chavez Gilliam to THE STUD bar, accepted by The Stud’s own Rachel Ryan; and by GLBT HS Board Member Ani Rivera to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated Theatrical Producer Jose Antonio Vargas. Inspirational keynote remarks were made by GLBT HS Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana. Entertainment was provided by the gorgeous Persia.
Sister Dana sez, “Be still, my heart! CHER has been inducted into the new ‘Legends’ category of the ‘Hall of Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame’! Cher is the ONLY one to have a ‘Billboard Number One’ in each of the last seven decades! Brava, Cher, mon cher!”
“To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid.” That’s what a federal judge wrote recently as he ordered the state of Florida to stop threatening TV stations with criminal charges if they run ads for their amendment to restore and protect abortion rights in Florida. For months, Gov. Ron DuhSantis has deployed state agencies, police, and millions of dollars of taxpayer money to try to prevent voters from overturning Florida’s extreme, 6-week abortion ban. This judge’s decision was a real victory. Sister Dana sez, “Hey, Ron baby. Do say GAY; Do say ABORTION; Do say BOOKS not bans; and I Do say you are a douche for not sayin’!”
I just saw what could have been one of those awful red MAGA caps, but this was a red cap with the best ever reinterpretation of MAGA stitched on to boldly state: “Make the A-hole Go Away!” And I also spotted
a very clever pro-Harris placard: “IT’S ABOUT MADAM TIME!”
One good thing about the Election Madness being over is that I will NOT be receiving over 250 new emails every damn day asking for donations. Gee, you donate one lousy time—and you’re stuck on their sucker list forever!
October 20 was Vice President Kamala Harris’ birthday, and I was thinking on that very day—wouldn’t it be a lovely birthday present to her as the Presidency and a gorgeous, big Blue Wave throughout the U.S. Congress?!
And is Trump crazy? That’s a rhetorical question. Of course he is. After answering only 5 questions at his Oaks, PA, rally, he cued his sound man to play 38 minutes of recorded music ranging from “Ave Maria” to “YMCA” while swaying and dancing clumsily and idiotically on stage.
Dozens of musicians, record labels, and estates have called on Trump to stop playing their songs at campaign events. Many have even sent formal cease and desist letters. And yet, the campaign refuses to quit making playlists full of music and artists who have publicly denounced him. And does Trump realize that “YMCA” is a GAY ANTHEM?
At his Latrobe, PA, rally, Trump went vulgar, shouting, “KaMAla Harris, you’re a (expletive) vice president!” and then got all turned on about deceased golf legend Arnold Palmer and his penis size being “all man” in the showers! Ew. In Erie, PA, he violently spoke of dealing with shoplifters by “having one rough hour” to deal with them. On Fox-TV news he raged about “the people from within” as “very bad people, sick people, radical left lunatics” who can be easily handled by calling out “the National Guard and the Military” to rough them up! He accused the most revered ever House Speaker by saying, “Nancy Pelosi is an enemy from within!” Speaking at the Unavision-TV meeting, he spoke to an aghast audience of Latinx voters by claiming the deadly January 6 insurrection and riots were “a day of love and peace” where “Ashli Babbitt was killed, nobody was killed, there were no guns, nothing done wrong.” But thank God former Trump associates like his Chief of Staff and MANY Military Generals are calling him a “FASCIST!”
On October 24 in Tempe, AZ, immigrant-hating Trump told his crowd, “The U.S. is like a garbage can for the world.” Sister Dana sez, “So THIS is the wannabe President of America—calling us trash?!”
And in continuing to cast doubt without any evidence about Harris’ early employment during college at McDonald’s, small-minded Trump showed up to work for almost an entire 15 minutes at a specially-closed McDonald’s site to pre-selected customers to prove—well, I don’t really know WHY he did this. Sister Dana sez, “At least Trump has a career to fall back on when politics and business mogul fail him. Hey Donnie, practice saying this phrase over and over after you fail in everything else, ‘You want fries with that?’”
AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL (ALRP)’s 41ST ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL RECEPTION was held on October 24 at The Grand, 520 4th Street—the old Trocadero. Marga Gomez (a nationally touring openly lesbian comic since before Ellen DeGeneres came out of the closet) was special guest host. She was hilarious! ALRP Executive Director Matt Foreman inspired us with the past, present, and future of ALRP. He noted the evening’s theme was “rights, resilience, and revelry.” Former Mayor and Speaker of the Assembly Willie Brown presented Representative Barbara Lee with the “Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award.” A social worker by profession and a principled advocate for justice, Congresswoman Lee was first elected in 1998 to represent California’s 9th Congressional District. She was honored for her lifelong dedication to achieving an AIDS-free generation, including authoring or coauthoring every major piece of Federal HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ rights legislation since she was elected.
Bruce Vilanch, two-time Emmy Award winner, was honored with the “Bill Hirsch Leadership Award” for his extraordinary record of volunteering his voice, time, and talent in support of organizations serving people living with HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ community, and for unflinchingly and hilariously challenging and lampooning homophobia and political extremism. He always makes me laugh, and certainly did not disappoint that night!
Michael Rooney, who joined ALRP as a Panel Attorney in 2007 and has accepted 36 referrals since that time, was honored as “Attorney of the Year.” Often going above and beyond to support clients on multiple matters, in 2023, he contributed over 200 hours of pro bono time to ALRP, including work on two affirmative housing cases for ALRP clients. Congratulations!
It is with great pride and pleasure that SAN FRANCISCO OPERA GUILD announces the 11th Annual Celebration of AN EVENING ON THE STAGE on November 18, 6 pm, War Memorial Opera House. The Guild invites you to this elegant and celebratory evening honoring The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita of the U.S. House of Representatives and Mr. Paul Pelosi for their long-standing support of opera and music education in our community. Enjoy dinner and live opera. https://www.sfopera.com/stage
Works of HeART was a fun fundraising art reception for MAITRI at 2358MKT gallery on October 26 featuring over 100 pieces. I especially enjoyed the tasteful nude male figures on canvas by Serge Gay and the erotic but humorous “still art” by Humberto Moldonado.
https://www.maitrisf.org/
The world premiere of THE NANNY LIVE at SF OASIS starts November 7! Imagine the kooky folx in the TV classic sit-com with mostly drag actors: “Oh, Mr. Sheffield!” Runs November 7–30, 298 Eleventh Street. I’ll write more in next issue. https://www.sfoasis.com/
It was horrifying that, on October 27, when our beloved, proudly gay Senator Scott Wiener held his yearly, fun and fun-loving “PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST” in Noe Valley—it was appropriated by a rally of dozens of anti-trans “persons” with cowardly hidden faces donning giant, scary Raptor dinosaur costumes who harassed the children and spewed anti-trans lies. The group calls itself “Detransitioners.” Sister Dana sez, “I can only hope this bunch of backwards-thinking dinosaurs dies out like their dim-witted, prehistoric predecessors!
V.P. Harris, on October 29 at the Washington D.C., Ellipse (actual site where the January 6 riot occurred), gave her closing argument in front of 75,000 enthusiastic attendees to state quite plainly that Trump has shown us who he is—and that is not who we are! Allow me to quote deadly dangerous murderous Trump at his October 31 Arizona rally regarding heroic Harris surrogate, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney: “Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her!” Whaaat?! The ex-president is calling for ASSASSINATION!!!
Sister Dana sez, “Now that the Electoral College has shut its ‘hallowed’ doors, the only polls we are left to watch are stripper poles!”
As we go to press, and the Big Election is over without my knowing the results yet, please choose below the proper current emotional reaction:
A. Glory! Hallelujah! It’s a Great Day! Harris/Walz has won! Democracy lives on! Abortion rights will be restored! Equal rights for ALL! The economy will rise, and inflation will fall!
B. Hell, Damn, Spit! It’s Doomsday! T-rump and Juvenile Delinquent Vance have cheated, and it’s become an all-out Autocracy! Get ready to be locked up or deported! Tariff us into the Poorhouse. Usher in the dreaded “Project 2025.” We’re all gonna die!!!
Sister Dana Sez Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on November 7, 2024
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