Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “May I be the first to wish everyone a very Merry MAY DAY—and may many, many dance around your Maypole!”
President Joe Biden recently met with the Congressional LGBTQ EQUALITY CAUCUS, making him the first president in history to do so. “I am grateful to President Biden for inviting Equality Caucus leadership to meet with him at the White House today,” said Caucus Chair, out Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI). “President Biden has been the most vocal ally to the LGBTQ+ community we have ever had in the White House, and I thanked him for his unwavering support,” he continued. “We had a productive conversation about the pressing need for the Equality Act and other legislative and administrative actions to protect vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community in the face of the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks happening in state legislatures across the country.” Out Representatives Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) also attended the meeting, The Washington Blade reported.
Sister Dana sez, “Congratulations to newly crowned Emperor Brent Marek & Empress Ehra Amaya, who are both nurses and wonderful folx! May your Imperial Court flourish flawlessly and fabulously!”
FUN HOME comes to The Gateway Theatre April 21–May 8. A groundbreaking musical based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic novel, FUN HOME explores Alison’s life at three different ages, delving into her journey of discovering her sexuality, as well as her relationship with a hot-tempered father, with hidden secrets and desires all his own. 42ND STREET MOON is proud to present the Bay Area regional premiere of this five-time Tony Award winning triumph—a refreshingly honest, wholly original story about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes. https://42ndstmoon.org/fun-home/
KEN & JOE’S ANNIVERSARY/GOING AWAY PARTY is at Martuni’s Piano Bar, 4 Valencia Street on April 24, 4–7 pm. Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler—directors of the RICHMOND-ERMET AID FOUNDATION—will be commemorating their 40th anniversary together and celebrating their move to the Palm Springs/Cathedral City area. They hope to see as many of us as possible before they leave in early May, although I’m happy that they’ll be back for REAF events here. It’s $40 for 40 years, so they’re suggesting donations of $40 to support REAF’s continued awesome, amazing events in both San Francisco and Palm Springs. Donations: https://www.reaf-sf.org/
When three Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney, announced they would support Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation and voted with Democrats to bring her nomination to the floor, the inevitable happened. The vilest QAnon House member, Georgia’s Marjie Q Greene, smeared them on Twitter, calling them “pro-pedophile.”
Sister Dana sez, “47 Senate Republicans joined team QAnon, rejecting the most QUALIFIED Supreme Court nominee in decades!”
Sister Dana sez, “Nun the less, Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed in a historic AND bipartisan 53–47 Senate vote! Justice Brown Jackson is now the first Black woman to EVER serve on the Supreme Court and only the second woman of color and fourth woman ever confirmed!”
Season 14 of TV’s RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE has been full of many surprises. Such as: two loud and proud transgender contestants and a hetero one. In the monetary category, the winner’s cash prize has increased from $100,000 to $150,000; and the runner-up queen will take home 50 grand! Rather than eliminating down to three or four, there are FIVE remaining queens competing for the crown: Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Bosco, Willow Pill, Lady Camden, and Daya Betty. The grand finale is April 22, 8 pm on VH1, followed by a season 14 (no doubt quite catty) reunion at the same time the next day.
By now you know my extreme affection for Randy Rainbow and his hilarious parodies, so I really have to go GAY GAY GAY along with Randy against “Don’t Say Gay” Florida’s DeSantis in this one: https://tinyurl.com/4ndbuxms
Come to the Academy to celebrate LGBTQ community leaders Dr. Betty Sullivan and Donna Sachet during the week of their BIRTHDAYS! The evening will provide a rare opportunity to turn the lens on them and to thank them for their decades of service. Whether you know Betty from “Betty’s List” and the SF BAY TIMES (event co-presenter), or Donna from her co-hosting the annual PRIDE BRUNCH and PARADE broadcasts, her column, or from any number of other things—chances are, these two have touched your life in some way. I cannot imagine the Bay Area LGBTQ community without them. Numerous special guests will be at the event, joining the regular “Divas & Drinks” team that includes Bacardi VP Heather Freyer and her crew of talented mixologists. Special guest co-emcees will be SF Pride President Carolyn Wysinger and former SF Pride President Gary Virginia. I know I wouldn’t want to miss this party! So please come toast to Betty and Donna, to living out and proud lives, and to many more celebrations to come! The fun happens at The Academy, 2166 Market Street on April 28, 6–10 pm. Registration is required for this limited-capacity, general admission, indoor/outdoor event. https://tinyurl.com/3kbb9hbh
SF LGBT CENTER held its 20TH ANNUAL SOIREE on April 9 at City View Metreon for a night of celebration—beginning with a lovely reception with a raffle, dinner, and show hosted by the delicious duo of Sister Roma and Honey Mahogany. And I got to sit next to SF Pride Board Vice President Nguyen Pham, exchanging witticisms. What fun! We heard about a new mural for the Center painted by artist Juan Manuel Carmona. Former Senator Mark Leno gave us a helpful history lesson on the early days of founding and funding what became the very first queer community center in San Francisco. Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe inspired us with her speech about the Center as it operates today. Entertainment was by the fabulous Juanita MORE!, including after-party dancing with DJ Lady Ryan. As it ushered in 20 years of service to our LGBTQ community, we helped the Center raise $365,000 to ensure continued services for LGBTQ folks most in need. Check out what they offer our community at https://www.sfcenter.org/
SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER held their glorious SHOW OF HOPE GALA on April 16 at the Hyatt SF. We rightfully honored both Brett Andrews, CEO of PRC and founder of SF BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL and also Claudine Cheng, President of APA HERITAGE FOUNDATION and founder of SAN FRANCISCO ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN MONTH CELEBRATION. The evening featured lively dancing to Grammy award winner Jody Watley. The Emcee was proudly queer ABC7-TV’s Reggie Aqui. Check out the Community Health Center site: https://sfcommunityhealth.org/
THE GOLDEN GATE MEN’S CHORUS will present its annual Spring Concert, “LOVE AND WAR.” Under the direction of music director, Joseph Piazza, the men of the GGMC will bring their award-winning artistry to powerful anthems and tender poems of love and loss, featuring music by Sibelius, Janáček, Dvořak, Monteverdi, and a new commissioned work from Bay Area composer, Stephen Main, “New Fire.” Joining them are the SAN FRANCISCO GIRLS CHORUS and JUBILATE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA in a performance of Händel’s “Psalm 109 Dixit Dominus.” Mission Dolores Basilica, 3321-16th Street (at Dolores), Saturday, April 30, 8 pm or Sunday, May 1, 4 pm. https://ggmc.org/
THE CASTRO MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION board of directors just had a change in leadership, and the new co-chairs are Dave Karraker co-owner of MX3 Fitness on Market Street, and Terrance Alan, owner of The Flore Store and Café Flore. The previous president, the president through the pandemic, was Masood Samereie, a real estate agent with Aria Properties.
Sister Dana sez, “The House has passed a bill to erect a statue of Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Now we must convince the stubborn Senate to pass it!”
THE CASTRO FARMER’S MARKET will be open every Wednesday from 3–7pm until November 16th on 290 Noe Street North of Market. https://www.pcfma.org/castro
The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, in partnership with the Department of Public Health, Virus Geeks, South of Market Health Center, and Castro Merchants is offering free COVID-19 testing and vaccines without any appointments at the Collingwood parking lot on 18th Street between Collingwood and Castro Street. The hub offers testing every Saturday from 11 am–5 pm, and will offer vaccinations on May 21.
Experience the raucous, subversive camp that only THE COCKETTES could achieve in a rare, not-to-miss screening of three short films: Palace, Tricia’s Wedding,and Elevator Girls in Bondage. Special guest, Fayette Hauser, author, artist, actress and original Cockette, offers fabulous insight into the time and production of these films. Doors open at 4:45 pm, Koret Auditorium, Main Library, 100 Larkin Street. https://sfpl.org/events/2022
HARVEY MILK DAY is May 22, so SAVE THE DATE! Harvey Milk’s birthday is May 22, and there will be celebration in the Castro, especially in Jane Warner Plaza! ay 22nd 11 – 5 Jane Warner Plaza. The Castro Theatre will be showiatinee of the Life and Times of Harvey Milk. Make plans to attend!
Sister Dana sez, “It is good news that Trump endorses Oz in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate Race, because now the ‘curtain’ can be pulled back and revealed that the ‘Wizard’ is a fraud!”
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