By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “I’m looking forward to seeing Trump in his orange jumpsuit to match his orange face. Oh yeah, he’s going to jail for sure!”
We celebrated the birthday of drag icon JUANITA MORE! and the launch of MORE!JONES, her new indoor-outdoor fully-stocked bar-restaurant at 620 Jones Street @ Geary on Tuesday, September 4. There were passed-around hors d’oeuvres and finger foods, plus Juanita’s signature cocktail. Everyone who was anyone attended the festive kickoff party. With a fresh new approach to “eating out” in San Francisco, the MORE!jones team, including Juanita, Chef Cory Armenta, and food stylist Cole Church, will tickle your taste buds with their Latin-Mediterranean-style dinner menu, including Juanita’s French-style carnitas, pizzas, burgers, and her famous chicken livers. “I need you to come out. I need you to eat at my restaurant,” says Juanita. “Otherwise, I don’t have one! So, my birthday wish is that you come and eat all the time. It’s important to support the queer run and owned businesses in San Francisco. It’s important to give back to the institutions that make this City one worth living in.” http://620-jones.com
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf officially opened her re-election campaign headquarters on September 8 at 3909 Grand Avenue in the Lakeshore neighborhood of Oakland. This will serve the Mayor’s re-election campaign staff, and will function as the base of operations for volunteer activities.
According to Rafael Mandelman, District 8 Supervisor, The Castro and Dolores Park, in particular, need to see clear progress around homelessness, so earlier this month his office convened a meeting with representatives from neighborhood community organizations including the Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association, Castro CBD and Castro Merchants, as well as the leaders of the SFPD, Department of Public Works, Department of Public Health and Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. He said the assembled departments will be working with his office and neighborhood leaders to produce a plan to resolve recurring homeless encampments in Dolores Park and deal with the mentally ill and drug addicted individuals we see on the streets of the Castro.
OkCupid announced that on September 10 the app became even more inclusive for those who identify anywhere along the spectrum of gender, from male to female to non-binary and all identities in between. OKCUPID collaborated with GLAAD to create a space where users can display their pronouns along with other personal attributes, so that everyone can promote their authentic selves for safer dating experiences.
Sister Dana sez, “Trump’s radical Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has REFUSED to tell Senator Kamala Harris if he agrees with the landmark Obergefell marriage equality decision. Yet another reason to say: KAVA? NAH!”
RISE FOR CLIMATE, JOBS, & JUSTICE CA was held in San Francisco on Saturday, September 8, as the largest mobilization for climate, jobs, and justice on the West Coast. An estimated 30,000 peaceful demonstrators rallied at Embarcadero Plaza, 4 Embarcadero Center and then marched down Market Street to Civic Center Plaza. On that day, in city streets, town squares, and capital buildings across the world, people rose up to demand politicians stand with their communities and deliver more than just words just days before the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco. Organizers promised this action would not be your ordinary march. They said the event would shift power to demand real climate leadership that protects vulnerable communities, workers, and future generations; keep fossil fuels in the ground; develop a just, equitable, resilient 100% renewable energy economy that rapidly expands economic opportunity; and create family sustaining jobs for a thriving society that does not sacrifice any community around the world. This was a powerful movement of Indigenous people, frontline communities, immigrants, people of color, people of faith, young people, Californians, queers, and people from across the world demanding real climate leadership to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Among the placards carried were: “Not a Penny More for Dirty Energy;” “100% Renewable for All;” and “Fossil Free!” A long yellow banner was emblazoned with “WE RISE FOR SURVIVAL!” Governor Jerry Brown tweeted, “Today, California’s message to the Trump administration is simple: Not here, not now. We will not let the federal government pillage public lands and destroy our treasured coast!” And on September 10, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement upon Governor Brown’s signing of Senate Bill 100: “As Donald Trump pushes for more coal and oil, California is going in the opposite direction: moving toward 100% clean and renewable energy future. With the enactment of Senate Bill 100, we are committing to a sustainable future—one in which we stop strangling Mother Earth and preserve this planet for future generations. Thank you, Governor Brown, for signing this critical bill, and thank you de Senator Kevin León, for leading.”
Over 100 mayors from around the world, heads of cities and states, policy makers, and members of the faith community gathered on September 12 at Grace Cathedral to officially kick off the GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT.
OAKLAND PRIDE 2018 was the 9th anniversary of the Parade and Festival, taking place on Sunday, September 9. The Pride PARADE kicked off 11 am at Broadway & 14th Street. Oakland Pride FESTIVAL opened at 11 am and ended 7 pm. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Oakland Pride has been reported as the most diverse and family friendly PRIDE in the country. A Family & Children’s Garden within the FESTIVAL focused on providing a fun and safe area for children and their parents/guardians with free programs and activities. For entertainment, the festival offered a Main Stage, Community Stage, Women’s Stage, and The Club 21 Latinx Stage. It was six city blocks of music, art, vendors, food, and fun!
Sister Dana sez, “Seventeen years ago I had just returned from Burning Man so joyous and refreshed—only to see the news about something I could not believe I was watching on TV: the planes attacking America on 9/11! Now our White House has been attacked—by that horrible fascist oligarch, plutocrat, autocrat, and demented, deplorable narcissist! And by his administration! And by his Repugnican Congress!”
Designer Marco Marco‘s show at NEW YORK FASHION WEEK last weekend featured only transgender models. While transgender models have worked high-profile gigs like this one in the past, this show was notable because there were no cisgender models.
A few days before Hurricane Florence arrived on the East Coast, the Trump Administration quietly took $9.75 million out of the FEMA budget—and put it to pay for ICE detention centers. Are we outraged enough yet?
Make your own kind of music at PETE’S OPEN MIC Thursdays, 9–Midnight at the Cove in the heart of the Castro at 434 Castro (right across from the theatre). No Cover! beverage and dessert service. This is not karaoke, because we have an awesome keyboard player with lyrics upon demand. She made Sister Dana come alive with “Unchained Melody” and “Ebb Tide.” She can do that for you too! On Thursday, our always hunky host, DerekSpreckelmeyer, sang the hell out of Billy Joel‘s “Piano Man!” Please come join us for the fun!
On September 15 at SOMArts Cultural Center, we SF Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. presented our outrageous annual event, PROJECT NUNWAY 9 TO 5: WORK! Crafty designers dramatically represented themes of labor, professionalism, and the workplace as they adorned us nuns in recycled regalia. “Supermodel” Sister Dana worked the runway as a journalist nun with my fellow nun models. Our selected nonprofit was POSITIVE RESOURCE CENTER (PRC). The mission of PRC is to help people affected by HIV/AIDS, substance use or mental health 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. We had fabulous talent: Emcees: Sister Roma & Steven LeMay riffed cleverly throughout. There was excellent entertainment by DJ PussPuss, Alex U. Inn & Momma’s Boyz, Baloney Boys, and Queen Dilly Dally’s Royal Variety Show. Celebrity Judges were Heklina, Juanita More!, Empress Pollo del Mar, Emperor Leandro Gonzalez, & Kit Tapata. After the esteemed judges returned with the results, we learned 1st was Sr. Agnes Dei’Afta Tamara with her designer Eden Slezin, 2nd was Sr. Guard N O’Pansies, and 3rd place went to Sr. Rose Mary Chicken. Sister Dana was simply honored to be a nominee. Oh waitaminnit, this wasn’t the Oscars. Well okay then, tell my publicists that “it was a totally rigged witch hunt, and this nun was nowhere near Russia.”
Sister Dana sez, “I am not ‘Anonymous,’ who broke the amazing op-ed about Trump and all the dirt coming from the White House. ‘Lodestar?!’ I am, however, non-anonymously and openly recommending these excellent events in EssEff.”
The monthly CASTRO ART WALK sponsored by CASTRO MERCHANTS continued its every first Thursday evening event. This next one was on September 6 at eight member businesses in the neighborhood that featured art displays (and activities at some). Participating in the Castro Art Walk (and most likely will continue to exhibit all September, so go check them out) were: Art Attack, 2358 Market Street (where I was pleased to see more acrylics on canvas by Tracy Piper in a style reminiscent of Andy Warhol with many gay-positive images); Spark Arts, 4229 18th Street (including live entertainment by musicians and vocalists from Ruth Asawa School of the Arts); Blackbird Bar, 2124 Market Street; Ruby’s Clay Studio & Gallery, 552A Noe Street; The Artist’s Gallery, 4406 18th Street; Brewcade, 2200 Market Street; Norden Living, 3618 17th Street; and Dog Eared Books, 489 Castro Street. Do give ’em a look!
Sister Dana sez, “Trump has called most of the media ‘fake news,’ and many nonfiction pieces against him ‘fake books.’ It is only a matter of time when he calls most of America ‘fake democracy.'”
STRUT is now exhibiting “PERFORMATIVE IDENTITIES” celebrating the work of their special Folsom featured artist, S.M. Shifflett. The exhibit will be on display all September—leather month. Artist’s statement: “What are our perceptions when we see someone dressed in fetish gear? The wearer is putting themselves on display and flagging their sexual proclivities. In everyday life by putting on a suit and tie, or putting on a sundress and sandals, or even putting on a work uniform, we are displaying our identities and often our gender and sexual identities. In my painting “Folsom,” there are leather men, puppy players, pony players, twinks, dykes, cross-dressers, muscle queens, trans people, lesbians, bears, and all variety of fetishists shown. Not only do the fairgoers express their fetishes but they are also reflecting back to us archetypes such as the dominant, the dominatrix, the slave, the submissive, service top, and service bottom. Interestingly, using this costume and performance, they are expressing something more honest and open about themselves than the times when they may have to wear other clothes elsewhere in their lives. In everyday life they may have to present something less true to their sense of selves and imply the relationship between their performed identity and/or gender is more socially acceptable related to the body we presume is under their outfits.”
VERASPHERE 25 YEARS: ART, LOVE, JOY is Friday, September 21, 6 to 9 pm at Harvey Milk Photo Center, 50 Scott Street. Come to the OPENINGRECEPTION celebrating the collaborative Partners works of photography, costumes, and paintings by artists David Faulk (“Mrs. Vera”) and MichaelJohnstone. Featuring the “Mrs. Vera’s Daybook” series of photographs, examining everyday life, alienation, magic, and long-term, survival, costumes made with up-cycled items and images of the Verasphere Group, an ever-expanding bunch that marches in Pride SF. Sponsored by San Francisco Recreation & Parks, Harvey Milk Photo Center Curator: Dave Christensen, Special Sponsor: Art Saves Lives, Thomasina DeMaio. https://www.facebook.com/events/1880961738652387
RICHMOND-ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) has worked with about 60 touring Broadway casts to present their “ONE NIGHT ONLY” benefit cabaret series, and they have all been creative, original, and fabulous shows. These are special nights where the cast members get to choose songs they love to perform and a break from singing the same songs they sing every other night of the week. Cast members from the sensational new production of The Phantom of the Opera will be joined by cast members from the hit show On Your Feet to present an evening of song, dance and comedy. You won’t see this show again anywhere else. This show will take place on Monday, September 24, at Marines’ Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter at 7:30 pm.
The 27th annual LEATHERWALK takes place on Sunday, September 23, as the official kick-off for San Francisco’s LEATHER WEEK which culminates one week later at the FOLSOM STREET FAIR. Each year, hundreds of LeatherWalkers take over Market Street and march from the Castro Station to SoMa. On-site registration and check in begins at 10 am at 440 Castro. Please check in at the bar, drop off your last-minute donations, and get your collectible LeatherWalk pin. Entertainment starts at 11:30 am at Jane Warner Plaza. The walk itself plans to start moving at noon from the front of Castro Theatre. The route includes stops at some of San Francisco’s favorite watering holes, ending with the raising of the Leather Pride Flag at the SF Eagle. Each host venue will showcase some amazing entertainment. The walk features Master of Ceremonies BeBe Sweetbriar with performances by some of San Francisco’s most amazing vocal and drag talent. https://give.classy.org/leatherwalk18
This all leads to the world’s largest leather and fetish event, FOLSOM STREET FAIR, which will take place on Sunday, September 30, from 11 am to 6 pm, on Folsom Street from 8th to 13th Streets—over 13 city blocks. A $10 suggested donation benefits local and national charities, and it gets you $2 off each drink you buy at the fair all day long. Sister Dana sez, “Come one, come all, come out!”
COMPASSION IS UNIVERSAL 2018 is SHANTI‘s main yearly fundraiser. It will be held on Thursday, October 4, at The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street. We will be celebrating 44 years of compassionate service in San Francisco. This year’s heartwarming event will feature a silent and live auction, hosted wine bar, sumptuous dinner, and moving remarks from community champions. Cocktail reception and silent auction begin at 6pm. Program and formal dinner begin at 7:30 pm. Honorary Co-Chairs are Honorable James C. Hormel & Mr. Michael P. Nguyen. https://shanti.ejoinme.org/ciu2018
Please join the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY on Friday, October 5, 5:30 pm in The War Memorial Green Room, 401 Van Ness, for a spectacular evening featuring Tony Award Nominee and Obie-winning trans-genre cabaret star Mx. Justin Vivian Bond! There will be a hosted bar, resplendent hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction brimming with entertainment and fun inspired by LGBTQ history. At this year’s gala, they celebrate the vibrant history of the LGBTQ community as they honor archivist, collector and curator, Lisbet Tellefsen; a special 40th anniversary recognition of The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus; and a posthumous award to pioneer LGBTQ studies and human sexuality scholar, Dr. John P. De Cecco. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/make-history-the-glbt-historical-society-gala-tickets-48509890388
Sister Dana sez, “I wish you a fantastic Leather Week to all you leather-folk and leather loving friends!”
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