By Sister Dana Van Iquity, Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun –
Sister Dana sez, “Mary XXXmas, my dear fellow queers! May your holidays be XXX-rated and fulfilling, Mary!”
An excellent way to greet the beginning of the HoliDaze was the annual CASTRO TREE LIGHTING ceremony produced by the CASTRO BENEFIT DISTRICT at Castro and 18th streets on December 1 this year. Emceed by Donna Sachet, several folx spoke, including Mayor Daniel Lurie (who remarked he had seen a lot of trees this year, but none quite like this one), Senator Scott Wiener, Per Sia, President of the SF Board of Supervisors & Bay Times columnist Rafael Mandelman, and Supervisor Matt Haney. Sister Roma recited a lovely poem she had composed, the SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE BAND played holiday favorites, we sang along, and the anticipated Santa finally arrived. The band led us into the dramatic countdown to zero, and the tree lit up bright and proud with its white fairy lights and rainbow trim! Come see this beautiful gem in the Castro!
Have you heard the latest in bad news for mostly innocent immigrants? ICE Immigration enforcers just inked a $30 million contract to use tariff-era warehouse vacancies for “processing centers and mega centers.”
Sister Dana sez, “Just what we needed: more jails for more people who might have been good citizens! We really gotta melt the ICE!”
And just to add to the absurdity, Trump had pardoned the most prolific convicted drug smuggler in American history, former Honduran President Juan Hernandez, who then got released from jail on December 2 this year—having been previously declared guilty by an American jury to 45 years imprisonment for smuggling 400 tons of cocaine into the USA. So, T-rump naturally declares War against South America!
Sister Dana sez, “Aye yai yai! Talk about Homeland InSecurity!”
DarnOld Trump has been super greedy to attain a peace prize, so it was no surprise that FIFA would award him the Inaugural (as in: they made it up to stop his egotistical whining) FIFA Peace Prize. But, as the witty John Stewart pointed out: this big gold globe held up by many hands resembles all these fingers tickling one of his testicles. Sister Dana sez, “As they used to say on the classic ‘Laugh-In’ TV skits: Well, soccer to me!”
On December 8, thousands of origami cranes inscribed with wishes for the future of the world—from people all over the world—graced the 20th annual RAINBOW WORLD FUND (RWF)’s WORLD TREE OF HOPE at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Emcees were Donna Sachet and Dion Lim. The impressive lineup of talent included Grammy-winning San Francisco Boys Chorus; the Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Young; Deputy Consul General of Japan Takeshi Ishihara; Consul General of Germany Theo Kidess; California State Senator Scott Wiener; Rev. Alan Matsui Leberta Lorál; Tammy Lynne Hall; San Francisco Emperor Ashlé Blow and Empress Afrika America; Origami Artist Linda Mihara; and RWF Founder Jeff Cotter. We Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc., blessed the Tree—shortly before Donna gave the countdown, and the tree (and our hearts) were lit with hope for the whole world!
We celebrated the 33rd year of SONGS OF THE SEASON with stars of San Francisco cabaret brimming with world-class performances, cheer, and heart! Produced by Brian Kent and featuring the event’s founder and beloved hostess Donna Sachet, this show served as both a celebration of the holidays and also a benefit for PRC, supporting life-changing services in behavioral health, housing, and workforce development for San Franciscans in need. The show was held at Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko on December 9 and 10. Among the classy performers were Brian, Donna, Kippy Marks (on electronic violin), Sister Roma (as a wise-ass wise soothsayer), more swingin’ singers such as Leanne Borghesi (who lovingly attacked me with her makeup kit during intermission to give me a badly needed instant makeover), Kenny Nelson, Charles Jones, Brian Justin Crum, Kenny Nelson, Meghan Murphy, and Dr. Dee. For the grand finale, Donna changed into an all-white gown to sing her traditional closing “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” and getting us all to joyfully sing along!
https://prcsf.org
We danced into the holiday spirit with the San Francisco Pride Band and this year’s 40thannual DANCE-ALONG NUTCRACKER. This Nutcracker Suite was sweet! The theme was “Wicked.” We wannabe ballerinas and ballet-star audience members accordingly “defied gravity” by clapping, twirling, and dancing along with an unforgettable group of artists whose talent and energy made the show sparkle brighter than ever with an intriguing plot! Of course, we couldn’t help but sing-along to the Almighty Gay Anthem of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” And it’s always an anticipated treat to enjoy the Costume Parade of the clever band members marching in line after intermission. And, at the conclusion, it was surely time to be “Off to See the Wizard,” and be bombarded by “billions” of big, black, bowling ball-sized balloons! A rather surprising incoming balloon almost knocked my vodka seltzer right out of my hand! Evil! There were four different dates from which to choose: Saturday, December 6, 3 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday, December 7, 11 am and 3 pm. Naturally, this grownup nun purposely chose the adult version. All were held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts – Forum. https://sfprideband.org
I didn’t have room in my December 4 column to brag just a bit about another thing that happened on December 2, when I attended an event in the National AIDS Memorial Grove where us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were awarded the National Leadership Recognition Award for our history supporting the erad-ication of AIDS. So there: I mentioned it!
Way back on December 8, the State Department renamed the former Institute of Peace to “reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation›s history,” the State Department dishonestly exaggerated in a post on X. “Welcome to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. The best is yet to come,” it deceitfully promised. And yet we must thoughtfully reflect that the renaming is especially odd, given that the White House has previously referred to the Institute as “bloated” and “useless.” Sister Dana sez, “Hmmm, upon reflecting, those two words quite aptly and distinctly describe Donald J., don’t they?!”
Emperor 48 After Norton William Bulkley in conjunction with Their Most Imperial Majesties, Emperor Ashlé Blow and Empress Afrika America and the IMPERIAL COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO presented “AN EVENING OF MISTIQUE: The 103rd Birthday of Empress I de San Francisco José Sarria” at The Café in the Castro on December 13. They joined emcees Absolute Empress 30 Donna Sachet and Emperor 36 John Weber—along with DJ Sergio Fedasz—for an elegant evening of fabulous entertainment celebrating the late, great icon “Mother” José Sarria. There were gorgeous performances by reigning monarchs, as well as titleholders and members of the Imperial Family. And we were surrounded by constantly changing photos screened on all the walls displaying her majesty Mama José in her earlier days—some as a respected businessman, others as a vibrant politician, and many of them in her most exquisite, eye-dropping drag.
San Francisco’s Circus Bella presents “STARLIGHT,” an all-new Winter Circus Spectacular now playing through January 4, 2026, at The Crossing at East Cut, 211 Beale Street (at Howard Street). STARLIGHT is performed in the round under a Colorful Big Top Circus Tent for a limited engagement of 26 performances. From the moment you arrive, be transported to a starlight-drenched world of magic and splendor. With brand-new acts, sumptuous costumes, and artists from across the USA, Circus Bella brings all the nostalgia and beauty of an old-timey circus combined with the eyebrow-raising savvy and modern look of the present.
https://www.circusbella.org
The Daily Beast reports that Mom-and-Pop business bankruptcies have hit a record high under PresiDense Trump; meanwhile the Presidency boosts Trump’s net worth by $3 billion in a year—all while bragging and lying that the economy has never been better.
Sister Dana sez, “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” During a Pennsylvania interview, when asked what grade he would give himself regarding the current economy, clueless Trump actually said, “A+++++,” in all sincerity. Sister Dana sez, “As a former English college professor, I am now taking out my red pen to grade the predictable Prez with a big F—no plus or minus—just a solid F!”
Sister Dana Sez Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on December 18, 2025
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