By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “Let’s give a big hand to Trump for his super-spreader rallies. And by ‘give a big hand’ I mean a big slap to his ugly orange face!”
A recent PRINCETON UNIVERSITY study regarding the last several months of protests in the U.S. found “in more than 93% of all demonstrations connected to the BLM movement, demonstrators have not engaged in violence or destructive activity.” Whereas the study also found: “Authorities have used force … in over 54% of the demonstrations in which they engaged.”
Sister Dana sez, “Someone please tell Liar-in-Chief Trump the actual statistics prove that—despite his fear mongering and attempting to stir up violence—most protests are peaceful!”
DRAG OUT THE VOTE and ROCK THE VOTE teamed up to bring a one-time-only virtual drag extravaganza on September 9 via Facebook registering voters and fundraising for DOTV’s DRAG AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. Hosted by DOTV Co-chair Brita Filter, the voter-realness drag extravaganza featured RuPaul’s Drag Race favorites Jaremi Carey (Phi Phi O’Hara), Cynthia Lee Fontaine, The Vixen, SF’s Rock M. Sakura, plus national Co-chair Marti G. Cummings, and Drag Ambassadors Cissy Walken (New York City) and Blackberri (Houston). Everyone emphasized that one in five LGBTQIA+ people are not registered to vote. 100 million people did not vote in 2016. We must fix this, and these fabulous 200+ Drag Ambassadors are organizing to get out the vote in their communities. Also, several dozen ambassadors painted face and dolled up to each give a stunning 30-second PSA for voting. Let’s not disappoint them! https://www.dragoutthevote2020.org/
Sister Dana sez, “USPS Board of Governors: Stop delaying the mail and suppressing our votes! Remove the Postmaster General and restore services immediately!”
This year marks 40 years in service by HORIZONS FOUNDATION: a momentous milestone for the world’s first community foundation of, by, and for LGBTQ people. Since 1980, they have awarded over $49.2 million to over 2,100 organizations, including $641,500 in emergency grants to Bay Area LGBTQ organizations in response to the pandemic. This VIRTUAL GALA 40 was held on September 12. They raised over $390,000. Gala Co-chairs were Jim Shay and Olga Talamante with genial host Michael Tate. Horizons Executive Director Roger Doughty addressed the major worries of these terrible times, with a promise that Horizons will do everything they can to help in such topics as BLM, AIDS, COVID-19, and so many other concerns. “I missed being in a big room with all of you, and giving and getting a thousand hugs,” said Doughty. “But I could still absolutely feel the unbreakable sense of community that binds us—and that powers us toward our shared vision for the future.” For entertainment, Drag King KB “Tuffy” Boyce strummed the blues; Breanna Sinclaire hit the high notes heavenly with “Summertime Blues” from Porgy and Bess; and the duo from Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, Vicci Martinez and Emily Tarver, superbly serenaded us. DJ Page Hodel spun tunes for the after-party. I joined so many of my friends in the chat room and onscreen raising a toast to 40 more years with a glass of RED wine for the RUBY anniversary. Cheers, queers! https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA (EQCA) held its first-ever statewide virtual celebration, THE GOLDEN STATE EQUALITY AWARDS, on September 13. They raised over $85,000. Actress, CEO, and transgender activist Angelica Ross was the hostess. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi led a touching tribute to the life and legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis. Openly LGBTQ artist Rufus Wainwright performed Leonard Cohen’s emotional classic “Hallelujah.”
Gloria Estefan and Rita Moreno honored the iconic television writer and producer Norman Lear. Transgender actress and executive producer Laverne Cox, director Sam Feder, and producer Amy Scholder accepted the Equality Visibility Award on behalf of the Netflix Original Documentary Disclosure. Pete & Chasten Buttigieg received the Equality Trailblazer Award. Congratulations to pro-equality champion and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Chair Emeritus Assemblymember Evan Low! With over 900,000 members, Equality California is one of the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations. And EQCA is California’s only LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working at the local, state, and national levels. https://www.eqca.org/about/
GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY presented MIGHTY REAL: A CELEBRATION OF SYLVESTER, an online forum on September 16, which would have been his 73rd birthday (1947–1988). We were privileged to see and hear this iconic San Francisco disco diva Sylvester in concerts—especially performing Big Band favorites. The society’s registrar Ramón Silvestre showed slides of the Sylvester-related gorgeous fashions in the Art and Artifacts Collection. Disco will never die! Thank you, Sylvester! https://www.glbthistory.org/exhibitions
Rest in peace and power, my friend Matthew Simmons, also known as iconic comical drag queen Peggy L’Eggs, who died peacefully on September 8 at age 60. I will truly miss your adorable antics, Peggy darling! There is an online memorial on Saturday, September 26, 5–7 pm hosted by Peaches Christ & Heklina. It will include remembrances and performances from friends and family. Following the memorial, attendees are invited to an online reception with Kylie Minono for more sharing of memories and conversation. https://www.twitch.tv/sfoasis
Sister Dana sez, “I hate that the ultra-right radical conspiracy theorist group, QAnon, has kidnapped my favorite letter ‘Q’ for Queer!”
State Senator Scott Wiener has welcomed the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RESOLUTION from Supervisor Catherine Stefani condemning QAnon attacks. “The attacks on Senator Wiener are part of a growing and extremely dangerous white supremacist movement, which increasingly targets immigrants, religious minorities, and the LGBTI community,” said Supervisor Stefani. “We know that this kind of online harassment can serve as a red flag to real-world violence, as was the case in Charleston, Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, and El Paso. What is happening to Senator Wiener could happen to anyone, and that’s why it’s so important that we stand together to denounce this vicious behavior and the platforms that permit it.”
As you may already know, Denise D’Anne, a former Co-President of the HARVEY MILK LGBTQ DEMOCRATIC CLUB, passed away on September 2nd. She was an early transgender activist and lifelong environmentalist and brought these value sets when she led the Club in 2010 with David Waggoner. She was greatly honored at the September 15 General Membership virtual meeting.
HRC SAN FRANCISCO invites us to a livestream, UNITE FOR EQUALITY LIVE, on September 24, 5 pm PST. Human Rights Campaign aims to bring together supporters of equality from across the country to engage with their work to mobilize and build momentum toward the upcoming election. https://uniteforequalitylive.org/
The ASIAN ART MUSEUM will reopen for a members’ preview October 1–2, then to the public for free from October 3–12. https://buy.acmeticketing.com/orders/474/calendar
SFMOMA opens to members for a special preview period October 1–3, and will similarly host free admission days from October 4–18. https://tickets.sfmoma.org/tickets/type=all
San Francisco comedy producer (famous for “Kung Pao Kosher Comedy”) Lisa Geduldig‘s monthly series LOCKDOWN COMEDY takes place every 3rd Thursday. Next one is on October 15. The September 17 Zoom allowed us to laugh out loud to comics Wendy Liebman, Matt Kirshen, Sampson McCormick, Lisa Geduldig, and her funny mom Arline Geduldig. http://www.koshercomedy.com/lockdown-comedy
Days before her death, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told her granddaughter, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new President is installed.” We must do everything we can to honor her wish, fight against a Trump nominee, and continue her legacy of fighting for LGBTQ, BLM, and women’s rights. A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL was held in the Castro the night of her passing, September 18, with almost 300 masked marchers behind a huge banner stating: “WE WON’T LET YOU DOWN, RBG!” Senator Scott Wiener said, “We are in mourning right now, and then we have to just get right back up and ready to fight.” Rest in power, Notorious RBG!
Legendary drag performer and DJ Juanita MORE! starred in a delightful one-night-only virtual fundraising charity event on September 19. The show featured her epic lip-sync performances to the greatest classics such as the timely “I’m Still Here” from Follies; a thumping late-night DJ set (dancin’ along in my boxers); and an awesome finale of Yma Sumac soprano realness. All this was in support of Mama G’s Thanksgiving Street Dinner, SF LGBT CENTER, and ACLU. Muy muy bueno!
The 37th Annual FOLSOM STREET FAIR goes virtual via livestream on Sunday, September 27, 10:45 am PST—hosted by comedian Margaret Cho, and broadcast directly from Folsom’s website. Folsom Street Events is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their mission is to create world-class leather and fetish events that unite the alternative sexuality communities with safe, consent-based venues for self-expression, art, and entertainment. FSE events raise funds to sustain SF Bay Area-based charities. They value sexual freedom, diversity, and volunteerism. All of their events are adult-oriented and sex-positive. Come let your freak flag fly freely (virtually)! https://www.folsomstreetevents.org/
Sister Dana sez, “Trump has called himself ‘a cheerleader for this country.’ Let me just picture this: ‘Give me an F, give me a U, What’s that spell?!'”
Published on September 24, 2020
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