By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “May I be the first to wish you a Happy VALENTINE’S DAY, although this is really just a Hallmark Greeting Cards way of exploiting a monk who was tortured, beheaded, martyred, and buried on February 14! But Happy V.D., everyone!”
VALENTINE’S DAY is February 14. Who is this Saint Valentine anyway? Apparently, Emperor Claudius II of Rome executed two different men named Valentine on February 14 (in two different years) during the third century. One account of St. Valentine says that he was a priest who was arrested for defying a Roman decree that forbade soldiers from marrying. Was that possibly a precursor to the concept of gay marriage? Anywaaay, both Valentines were martyred—one was brutally beheaded. Sister
Dana sez, “So this year, don’t lose your HEAD over trying to find the perfect Valentine’s gift. Martyrdom is no longer chic, my dear!”
Juanita MORE! wants you to be her Valentine! Are you single, married, or in a relationship? Juanita doesn’t care. Spend your Valentines evening at LOADS OF LOVE on February 14, 5–10 pm, 620 Jones Street, surrounded by our chosen family and those you love. Hosted by Juanita, Mr. David Glamamore, Sister Roma, and Dulce De Leche with dinner, dance, music, and entertainment by a cavalcade of artists. https://bit.ly/42PyZ9s
The Valentine’s Day grand opening of KNK CONTEMPORARY’s first show of the new gallery BLACK HEARTS is happening. Discover artwork from 38 amazing artists, each sharing their unique views on love. The opening reception is on February 14 from 6–9 pm. The exhibition remains for viewing until March 9 at 1920 Polk Street. https://knkcontemporary.com/
This year’s spectacular SF CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND PARADE is on February 15—starting at 5:15 pm with Joan Chen as Parade Grand Marshal, and Mayor Daniel Lurie as Honorary Marshal. The Parade begins at 2nd and Market Street, around Union Square, and heads towards Chinatown on Kearny Street. The opening act, Huaxing Arts Group, will delight the audience with a vibrant dance performance followed by Grand Marshal Chen, who will light the opening firecrackers. Unfortunately, we have received word that Carrie Ann Inaba will no longer be able to attend the parade this year due to the devastating Southern California wildfires. She hopes to return and participate in the future and wishes everyone “Gung Hay Fat Choy!” The SF Chinese New Year Parade and Festival Committee extends heartfelt sympathies to all of the individuals and communities impacted by the wildfires. They say, “Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we send our warmest wishes for strength and healing on their journey to recovery.” The televised broadcast will start at 6 pm on ABC7/KGO-TV and across all ABC7 streaming platforms, the 24/7 streaming news channel ABC News Live, Hulu, and KTSF 26. On February 15 and 16, the Committee will hold their two-day COMMUNITY STREET FAIR. Over 100 vendor booths will line the streets of Chinatown to become a shopper’s paradise. There will be activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages. Saturday, February 15, from 10 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday, February 16, from 9 am to 5 pm at San Francisco Chinatown on Grant Avenue, from California Street to Broadway Avenue. Sister Dana sez, “Wishing You Prosperity and Gung Hay Fat Choy!”
The 67th annual GRAMMY AWARDS show that was aired on February 2 on TV and the internet was so gay—and that was a good thing! It made my gay heart all warm and fuzzy for so many reasons.
Sister Dana sez, “Congratulations to openly, proudly lesbian CHAPPELL ROAN for taking home the golden gramophone as Grammy winner Best New Artist! The Pink Pony Club couldn’t be prouder!”
Sister Dana sez, “After she accepted the Grammy’s Best Pop Duo award with Bruno Mars for their ‘Die With a Smile,’ LADY GAGA deserves so much gratitude and love for boldly saying: ‘Trans people are not invisible; trans people deserve love; and the queer community deserves to be lifted up!’”
On February 3, during her MSNBC-TV Deadline Whitehouse recurring politics program, journalist and host Nicole Wallace summed it all up perfectly and so sweetly sarcastically: “Welcome to Monday! The acting U.S. Attorney, who’s a ‘stop the steal’ guy, has threatened to use the FBI—which is functionally decapitated—to enforce the rights of DOGE, which isn’t a thing, against people protecting the classified information at USAID.” Sister Dana sez, “I utterly agree with Wallace, and try to imagine this news being reported regarding a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY’s chaos and autocratic control. Would we not be absolutely appalled?”
VOTING DAY for the Next Emperor and Empress of San Francisco is February 15 at Castro Muni Station from noon to 6 pm; or The Cinch, 1723 Polk Street from 11 am to 4 pm; or Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom Street from 1 pm to 5 pm; one vote per person and you must have a valid photo ID and residency in San Francisco, Marin, or San Mateo County. The candidate for Empress is Afrika America, and candidates for Emperor are Ashle Blow or Todd Hotty. Sister Dana knows Ashle (aka Sister Bella Donna Summer) quite well, because she has been ceaselessly serving the community with us SF Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence since 2017, and he has been with the Imperial Court since 2020. “The reason I’m running is because I think we need to keep our LGBTQ organizations running, and the only way to do that is to have people participate and lead the effort,” Ashle told me. “Especially with everything happening already in 2025, I think we’re gonna need all of our groups, and all of our organizations to come together; and I think I’m in a unique position to do that; and hopefully I’m successful at that if I’m elected.” This columnist will comment that we have never had a Black Emperor and Empress serving together, and though Afrika America is running unopposed, she still needs your vote for Empress. Let’s let Ashle and Afrika rule The City! Now go vote!
And mark your calendars to see voting results and more fun for CORONATION 60 on February 22, Hyatt Regency SF, 50 Third Street, 5 pm. https://www.sfimperialcouncil.org/
It feels like King Trump has not stopped announcing executive orders since taking office—many of which are either blocked by judges or will be tied up in legal battles. But sneakily released late on February 7 was an executive order “to dismantle gun control.” All of the President Biden administration’s consequential actions to address the nation’s gun violence epidemic—like cracking down on rogue gun traffickers and expanding Brady Background Checks, which led to the steepest decline in gun homicides in history—will be under scrutiny. It should be pointed out that none of the accomplishments of the past four years are inconsistent with the Second Amendment. These policies are common sense, bipartisan, and supported by the majority of Americans across party lines, and they are already reducing gun violence across the country. Sister Dana sez, “Doesn’t the 2nd Amendment write about a ‘well-regulated militia’? So, what the hell is wrong with well-regulated, sensible gun laws?!”
I was thrilled to attend the reception presented by the emerging artists of the QUEER ANCESTORS PROJECT on February 8 at Strut. This group art exhibition showcases art from an incredible program that teaches queer youth vital queer history, art making workshops, and so much more. Anyone visiting Strut at 470 Castro Street can view this awesome exhibition on the third floor all through the month of March. After working hard for the past 7 months, 10 queer and trans artists have a total of 43 original linocut prints on display. That night offered a free button-making station featuring the art, and Queer Ancestors Project Creative Director Katie Gilmartin made a special neon green “Sister Dana” button for me. Katie is a dear friend and is also a fellow Sister of Perpetual Indulgence. She gathered all the artists for a group photo and short speech before the adoring crowd. “No one can take away our joy,” she emphasized. “Our joy is vast, ancient, sacred, and incendiary—and by that, I mean our joy ignites love and incites resistance!”
Also, save the date on March 8, 7–9 pm at Strut, for the upcoming artist panel with Queer Ancestors Project artists sharing more information about the histories, research, and experiences that inspired their prints.
Here is an historic opportunity to hear from NCLR’s leadership! On February 19, the NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS (NCLR) will gather in San Francisco with their founder, Donna Hitchens, former Executive Directors Roberta Achtenberg and Kate Kendell, and current NCLR President Imani Rupert-Gordon as they reflect on their work at NCLR. For the first time, we will have NCLR’s past and present leadership together! They will share perspectives about the role NCLR has played in the mission to achieve full LGBTQ equality and thoughts on the LGBTQ movement currently. This panel will be moderated by Olga Talamante, former NCLR board member and noted civil rights activist. This is a hybrid event. The panel will be held at the Chan National Queer Arts Center in San Francisco with a short wine and cheese reception to follow. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and the panel discussion will begin at 6 pm. You can also register for a virtual Zoom meeting. https://www.nclrights.org/
On the campaign trail, Trump said, “I know nothing about Project 2025.” He promised, “I have nothing to do with Project 2025.” He lied. Shortly after the election, Liar-in-Cheat Trump has made one of Project 2025’s chief architects, Russ Vought—for whom we did not vote—oversee the government’s entire budget office. Do we remember the nightmare when Vought was Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director for T-rump’s first term? Sister Dana sez, “That old nightmare is now happening again! Are we fully awakened to real life reality? Vought is AGAIN in charge of the Federal Budget! We must fight and overcome!!!”
During all the continuing chaos of the Trump obfuscation & confiscation administration taking away democracy and replacing it with oligarchic autocracy, their big plan is to seize power and just DARE Congress and the courts to stop them. Sister Dana sez, “When will feckless, inept Repugnican Congressmen wake up, realize that their jobs are in jeopardy because of this evil plan, and STOP the maniacal MAGA manipulation?!”
At the direction of the Trump administration, the federal Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies have been purging their websites of information and data on a broad array of topics, from adolescent health to LGBTQ rights to HIV. Several web pages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with references to LGBTQ health are no longer available. A page from the HHS Office for Civil Rights outlining the rights of LGBTQ people in healthcare settings is also gone. The website of the National Institutes of Health’s Office for Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office has completely disappeared.
But. fortunately, Trump’s agenda has been hitting legal roadblocks. A federal judge has issued a 30-day restraining order on Trump’s attempt to ignore federal law and freeze trillions in federal funding to alleged DEI and accessibility initiatives. When Trump issued the freeze to stop funding initiatives that “advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies,” that freeze has thereby prevented numerous social service organizations from accessing pre-allotted funds for various programs—including healthcare, childcare, emergency shelters, food assistance, scientific research, workforce trainings, and more. The judge’s order came in response to a multi-party lawsuit filed by DEMOCRACY FORWARD on behalf of several organizations including SAGE, a national organization advocating for LGBTQ elders. And, thankfully, Democratic Attorneys General in 22 states have filed lawsuits against DOGE and the “Doge-bags” trying to gather personal ID information.
Trump’s new cabinet currently blames anything going wrong with our country as the fault of DEI, and the need to therefore completely eradicate DEI. Sister Dana sez, “Did we think DEI stood for Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion? Nope! With this new autocracy, DEI is obviously Donald’s Ego Inflation! There is no one but us to save the Country from Trump and Musk!”
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on February 13, 2024
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