Sister Dana sez, “It’s Leather Week in EssEff! Celebrate!”
By Sister Dana Van Iquity
THE SPIRITUAL PURPOSE OF AGING is the title of the experiential workshop created under the auspices of OpenHouse. The first workshop will be followed by two more on September 22 and October 27 at The LGBT Community Center. Through the wisdom of guest speakers, group discussion, personal reflection, and poetry, we considered how various spiritual traditions answer this question and, in turn, how we answer it for ourselves. Renee aka Sister Jendra Uforian facilitated and noted that the challenges of life and aging can be gently eased as we cultivate ways to deeply soothe and comfort ourselves, to nurture an optimistic attitude, and to delve deeply into the spiritual nature of our being. Seekers have curiosity, desire, and perhaps a longing to understand and fully participate in all of life, suspecting or knowing that they and all beings are an expression of the sacred. Sister Jendra recited a delightful ancient poem by philosopher Rumi: “You are God hiding from yourself. The appearance of this world is a Magi’s brilliant trick, though its affairs are nothing into nothing. You are a divine elephant with amnesia trying to live in an ant hole. Sweetheart, O sweetheart, you are God in drag!”
The first workshop featured Dr. Nader Shabahanger, co-founder of Age Song, a pioneer in the development of elder care. We discussed the challenge of being a person of service, but one day no longer being able to serve – but rather being in need of service our self. We talked about the need to draw up a health directive – assigning someone trusted in our life to “pull the plug.” We spoke of not dreading getting older, because the alternative is death; and by the way, we are not OLD; we are MATURE. We all have an “inner elder” guiding us in maturation to become who we really are. We decided that true spirituality involved loving ourselves and others unconditionally.
RICHMOND-ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) held a check distribution party at E&O Kitchen and Bar Restaurant to give an $80,000 donation to SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION (accepted by SFAF’s Eric Rosendahl) and MEALS ON WHEELS SF (accepted by Jessica Sweedlerand David Miranda). Executive Directors Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler thanked everyone for their support. It should be noted that REAF has changed its name from AIDS Foundation to AID Foundation, in order to expand its mission.
The GAY ASIAN PACIFIC ALLIANCE (GAPA) held its 27th annual MISTER AND MISS GAPA RUNWAY PAGEANT at the Cowell Theater (Fort Mason Center). With its bayside location, there could not be any more of a perfect venue for Runway XXVII’s theme “Under the Sea”! The gay gala pageant was hosted by Miss GAPA 2012 Jezebel Patel and Mister GAPA 2013 Sir Whitney Queers (Nguyen Pham). The background of the stage was a continually changing video of sea creatures swimming along. This was interrupted briefly with stills of past GAPA royalty – from 1988 to 2014. Seven judges had the fun task of quizzing the contestants: Supervisor Jane Kim, Miss Gay SF Lily Rose, Absolute Empress 39 China Silk, iHeartMedia’s Lydia Neff, restaurateurs Brenda & Libby, Wells Fargo Foundation V.P. Mario Diaz, and Oakland Asian Cultural Center executive director Tamiko Wong.
Miss GAPA candidates were Singa, Mia Ho (voted Miss Congeniality by fellow contestants), Victoria Vertigo Moore (voted Most Photogenic), Victoria Secrette, Reyna, and D’Lady Ito. Mister GAPA candidates were: Kenekai Carson, Maleko Kililopela (who was voted by the audience as Boy Next Door), and Dez Kwok. All were dressed in sea-themed costumes. During the talent portion, I must give props to Victoria Secrette winning Favorite Fantasy with her “duet” of half man/half woman singing live “Endless Love.” Also kudos to D’Lady Ito winning Girl Next Door for her puppet version of herself doing ventriloquism. During half-time, the dance troupe Squirrel Friends executed an impressive interpretation of Madonna’s “Vogue” and a lively hip-hop number. This was also the stepping down of Jezebel and Sir Whitney (wearing a #LoveWins tank top) singing live Ricky Martin’s “Here We Go, Ole Ole, Ole!”
The judges voted Second Prince Maleko, First Runner-up Kenekai, Second Princess Mia, First Runner-up Victoria Secrette. And now, please welcome your new Mister and Miss GAPA 2015 Dez Kwok and D’Lady Ito! By the way, I believe this will be the very first ever BEARDED Miss GAPA! You go, grrrlll!!!
It’s going viral! What I am referring to is the KIM DAVIS CELL BLOCK TANGO by Randy Rainbow at youtube.com/watch?v=14C3TZg6NQM&feature=youtu.be – in which the famous Chicago musical number is a glorious takeoff on Kentucky Kim’s refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Hilarious!
Coming up!
In celebration of their fanciful fabric showrooms, the SAN FRANCISCO DESIGN CENTER has partnered with local drag queens to create amazing ensembles from textile manufacturers represented at the SFDC. The event on September 17 at 6- 8:30pm, 101 Henry Adams Street, will be a combination variety/runway show with dossiers made for each queen. From amazing drag performances to high-energy acts, DESIGN MEETS THE DIVAS OF DRAG will present an unforgettable drag show that will keep guests entertained and always wanting more! To round out the variety show, a special ensemble performance from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will be a highlight of the evening – performing songs by Elton John. Four finalists will be chosen by celebrity judges, Sister Roma, Tim Seelig, Darin Geise and Richard Hallmarq. One beautifully outfitted and talented queen will be crowned. Net proceeds of the event will benefit the Episcopal Community Services’ new Navigation Center whose pilot program strives to find permanent housing for the homeless, directs them to rehabilitation and/or mental health centers, and provides bus rides home to family members. Ticket includes appetizers, complimentary specialty cocktail, no-host bar. eventbrite.com/e/design-meets-the-divas-of-drag-tickets
Join me at The Edge Bar, 4149 18th Street, for our ANNUAL BAR BRAWL / DRAG BATTLE to benefit THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION and SF KREWE DE KINQUE on Saturday, September 19, 5pm – 8pm, Beer Bust, Jello Shots, and Show: KLASSY VS TRASHY II: THE REVENGE. The African Human Rights Coalition (AHRC) works with LGBTI communities and individuals in African countries seeking to claim and defend their human rights. They provide advocacy and direct services to advance this mission. edgesf.com
FOLSOM STREET EVENTS presents LEATHERWALK, Sunday, September 20, from 10 am-2pm, as the official kick-off for SF’s Leather Week which culminates one week later at the fair. Participants walk together to celebrate leather, kink, family and community – all while raising funds for three great agencies. Each year, hundreds of LeatherWalkers take over Market Street and march from the Castro to SoMa. The route includes stops at some of San Francisco’s favorite watering holes including Powerhouse, Oasis, and BeatBox, and ends with raising of the Leather Pride Flag at the SF Eagle.
FOLSOM STREET FAIR, THE WORLD’S BIGGEST LEATHER EVENT, is Sunday, September 27, 11am to 6pm on Folsom Street from 8th to 13th Streets. With 400,000 fetish enthusiasts spread out over 13 city blocks, there is something for everyone. Leather and fetish players from all over the world converge. With over 200 exhibitor booths showcasing fetish gear and toys, it’s a leatherfolk dream. Check out the massive live stage, two huge dance areas spinning tunes, and an erotic artists’ area with a performance stage. And, yes, you can still be naked, so avail yourself of the coat and clothes check areas as well! folsomstreetevents.org
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