By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “It must be the holidaze – I’m already hearing Xmas carols in all the stores, and I’ve barely finished eating my Thanksgiving leftovers!”
Speaking of Thanksgiving (or what I prefer to call “ThanksGAYing”), we SF SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE spent T-day at TENDERLOIN TESSIE’S HOLIDAY DINNER at the First Unitarian Church giving service to our most vulnerable and needy during the holiday season. My volunteer job was punching people. Now don’t go calling the abuse hotline, cuz I was just pouring punch for the people. And letting folks take selfies with us in nun drag was a delight.
Then it was off to Terrence & Cameron’s lovely home in the SOMA for their annual SPANKSGIVING party – gobbling way way waaaaaay too much Turkey, trimmings, and a bazillion sides, plus a lovely bar stocked with everything. I am just thankful I did NOT have a hangover the next day!
As we all have seen – over the years many organizations have joined the fight for LGBTQ rights. THE SALVATION ARMY does not appear to be terribly interested in anything other than denying that our Community has any rights at all. Please support Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in San Francisco, Dallas, San Diego, St Louis, and the Capital City Sisters (as well as others TBD) to ring in a new era of Yuletide giving. The EssEff Sisters will be holding SALVATION SISTERS: ARMY OF NUN on Saturday, December 20th at 6pm to Sunday, December 21st at 8pm on 18th & Castro Street corners. This is just a simple plea to skip the homophobic red buckets of Salvation Army, and save your pennies for the Salvation Sisters. Money raised will go to GLIDE MEMORIAL CHURCH charities.
The annual HARVEY MILK & GEORGE MOSCONE MEMORIAL MARCH AND VIGIL was a night of remembrance of the lives and untimely deaths of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone on the anniversary of their assassinations. Marchers gathered at Harvey Milk Plaza where thoughts were given by community leaders on Milk’s legacy. A gorgeous mural of fresh flowers framed a big black & white blow-up photo of Milk, attached to the Castro Station fence. People carried giant caricatures of Milk’s head on poles in remembrance. This was followed by a candlelight march through the Castro and up to the former site of Milk’s old camera shop (a place of fervent gay activism back in the day) at the Human Rights Campaign activist center and store to hear politicos and friends of Harvey give rousing speeches and to fondly reminisce.
GOOD VIBRATIONS, the legendary San Francisco-based sex toy retailer, sex educator, and fundraiser for more than three decades, hosted a HOLIDAY LAUNCH PARTY at its Valencia Street Store. I was introduced to several fine products as great gifts or stocking stuffers for men. The Original Magic Wand is the Cadillac of vibrators and Good Vibrations’ most popular vibrator. Formerly called the “Hitachi Magic Wand,” the foot-long, two-speed Magic Wand has a soft, tennis ball sized head – and it is a joyful massager for all the parts of the body. For more joy, pop on the Kinklab Vibe-Rite Hammerhead Male Attachment to extend the Wand’s use. A third suggestion, the Aneros Helix MGX Classic is anatomically designed and medically researched to work perfectly with a man’s body with simultaneous prostate and perineum stimulation – all without batteries or use of your hands. Regular use will help tone a man’s PC muscles. SisterDana being a strict top was at first wary, but in the end, it turned out to be a great beginner’s model. goodvibes.com
WORLD AIDS DAY EVENTS
During the early days of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, SHANTI PROJECT volunteers provided courageous love at the darkest of times; they exemplified the heartfelt response San Francisco is known for providing. To commemorate 40 years of service, Shanti Project hosted GRATITUDE IN THE GROVE, an evening of reflection, connection, gratitude, and dancing for former volunteers and HIV/AIDS volunteer caregivers (“the heroes of the AIDS epidemic”) at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. Under the weatherproof, heated, transparent tent we enjoyed fine food and drink, with celebratory dancing with DJ Page Hodel following a short program.
On the eve of World AIDS Day, the NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE held its annual LIGHT IN THE GROVE fundraising gala, a celebration of life and remembrance of those we have lost to the epidemic. This iconic event offered a nighttime journey through darkness and light, loss and hope. The Grove in Golden Gate Park provided mystical music and performance art in the woods, and brilliantly evocative, surreal, and technical displays of light. Indoors a transparently-tented celebration featured Tim Hockenberry singing and on keyboards. This year’s honorees were Ken Henderson, Executive Director, and Joe Seiler, Board Chair, of THE RICHMOND/ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION (REAF). Under Ken and Joe’s leadership and unwavering dedication, REAF has raised millions of dollars for Bay Area AIDS charities over the past twenty years. Co-chairs Dan Bernal & Tom Raffin introduced Executive Director John Cunningham, who proudly spoke of the history of the Grove and its plans for perpetual maintenance. Representative Nancy Pelosi told of her very early support for Congress to make the Grove a National Monument.
Celebrants joined the MERCHANTS OF UPPER MARKET AND CASTRO for their annual CASTRO HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY at Castro and 18th Streets. There was holiday music and fun hosted by the fabulous Donna Sachet as Mrs. Santa Claus, with a blessing by the ever glittery Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and a visit by Santa Claus and his elves. Ho ho!
RAINBOW WORLD FUND presented the 9th Annual WORLD TREE OF HOPE OFFICIAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION in Grace Cathedral featuring a concert by the Grammy winning San Francisco Boys Chorus; emcee Cheryl Jennings, Mayor Ed Lee and Consul General of Japan Masato Watanabe who exchanged peace cranes, Cleve Jones delivered a message of hope; singer Veronica Klaus with pianist Tammy Hall performed, and The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed the tree of a thousand white origami cranes, each containing written notes of hope and peace from children and individuals from around the world.
CUMMING UP!
From the holiday traditions of meaningful, thoughtful, and morally inspiring tales comes the heroic story of a 46-year-old boozer, user, and loser that must set aside all of her personal beliefs of nothing, and open her heart to the wrong and sexy feelings of Christmas. Stroll down the halls of Flat Point High as Jerri Blank finds the reasons for the seasons. This live rewrite play, STRANGERS WITH XXXMAS CANDY, is directed by Dani Spinks with an original script by Ralph Hoy, Bob McIntyre and Spinks. Loosely based on Comedy Central’s Strangers with Candy, this hilarious takeoff stars Bob McIntyre, Lauren Davidson, Sadie Fenton, Kelly Fitzgerald, Ralph Hoy, Lonnie Haley, Becky Hirschfeld, Derek Lozupone, Layla Rudy, Ricky Sakow, Jaime San Felippo, Alexia Staniotes, and Adam Vogel. Performed at The EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy Street. Show opens December 4th, and runs Thursdays-Saturdays, 8pm through December 20th. facebook.com/strangerswithcandysf
The Girls have landed safely from Miami and are all settled in – back at the beautiful Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street @ Mission/Capp. I›m talking about THE GOLDEN GIRLS in THE CHRISTMAS EPISODES with all new sets and costumes. December 4th to 21st, 12 performances only: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – 8pm, Sundays – 7pm. Starring veteran drag queens as The Girls: Heklina, Cookie Dough, Matthew Martin, and Pollo Del Mar. Co-starring Manuel Caneri, Peter Griggs, Tom Shaw, and Jordan Wheeler. goldengirlssf.eventbrite.com, trannyshack.com, cookievision.com
DANCE-ALONG NUTCRACKER, the annual terpsichorean fundraiser for the SF LESBIAN/GAY FREEDOM DAY BAND is entitled FROSTY’S HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY! (Read more about the event on page 21 of this issue.) Exemplifying the Band’s mission, for 29 years, the Dance-Along Nutcracker has been bringing together the community with a show that takes children, families, couples, and singles on a magical holiday journey. This year’s fun-filled, zany dance-along concert will take the audience on a musical excursion to a tropical paradise – so grab your tutu and your lei – we’re heading to Hawaii! Matinee shows – all ages, Saturday, December 13th at 2:30 pm (Preview Show), Children (12 & under) $10, Adults $20; Sunday, December 14th at 11 am & 3 pm, Children, Students & Seniors $18, Adults $30. Evening Gala Show – Adults Only: Saturday, December 13th at 7 pm, Adults $50. Buy tickets online or call the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Box Office at (415) 978-ARTS (2787). dancealongnutcracker.org
Sister Dana sez, “I am disappointed, disillusioned, and downright disgusted regarding the Ferguson Grand Jury’s senseless decision of NO INDICTMENT of that awful cop, but please don’t destroy our City in retaliation! Thank gawd the cowardly cop has resigned. I was so proud of the Mission District’s first peaceful protest, but then agitators went and broke windows in Union Square and elsewhere. Yes, we want justice, but please keep the demonstrations peaceful!”
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