By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “May you have a very happy MAY DAY, CINCO DE MAYO, and all things MAY!”
Bob Ostertag, author of ENCOUNTERS WITH MEN, appeared on April 10 at Fabulosa Books for their Author Reading. Bob’s spine-chilling chapter regarding his long-ago El Salvador reference to murderous fascists back then is mind-blowing and quite prescient for today’s horrendous “immigrant deportation” human rights violations. There is also a heartwarming chapter about a possible hookup that turned into a comforting hug for someone whose chest was covered with awful K.S. lesions back at the start of the AIDS epidemic. And this (most times) jolly journalist has plenty of humor—including his unexpected awkward encounter with his father who had come out gay at age 70 and a strange cowboy at a public urinal. What joy to see my old friend Bob at the same bookstore where we would gather in the late 1980s and beyond for author events! His fascinating new memoir tells a lifetime of intimacies and distances, moments with fathers and teachers, friends and lovers, soldiers, cops, and criminals—even one of the great mass murderers of the late twentieth century. Bob writes of the men he has known in stories with both deep love and deep violence, with sex often at the core. This speaks of the worst of the AIDS epidemic and the best of humanity. Ostertag has published more than twenty albums of music, seven books, two podcasts, and a feature film, covering a wide range of topics. His writing has won the “Most Censored Story of the Year” award from Project Censored and the “Most Important Book of the Year’’ designation from The Nation. He directed, edited, and produced Thanks to Hank, a feature documentary on the unsung hero of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, the late great Hank Wilson. Go buy this masterpiece at Fabulosa Books, 489 Castro Street!
“President Trump’s second administration is riddled with dishonesty, disarray, and a total disinterest in the health and well-being of the American people,” stated Attorney General Rob Bonta on April 7 about Trump’s “three d’s.” “On WORLD HEALTH DAY, I can’t help but think about one of the most egregious and dangerous examples: Trump’s disingenuous
campaign to ‘make America healthy again,’” said Bonta. He concluded, “The sad reality is, Trump is making it harder to be healthy in America, priming us for failure in the next pandemic, cutting our public health advancements off at the knees, and undermining our global leadership.”
THE PEOPLE’S MARCH/FIGHT FASCISM FOR DEMOCRACY was a massive march and rousing rally drawing hundreds on April 12 in SF supporting everyone under attack by the current government administration. Assembled was a coalition of young progressive officials, faith leaders, teachers, trans-leaders, immigrants, BIPOC, artists, the disenfranchised, activists of all kinds, and anyone else who felt they were subject to the unlawful policies of the new administration. Nobody should live in fear because of their color, faith, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, or political beliefs. The People’s March & Rally was created in 2020 by activists Juanita MORE! and Alex U. Inn to show solidarity with the LGBTQ community and bring back activism. As I always stress: The People—not the government—should have the power!
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders have been speaking out to huge crowds during their record-breaking “FIGHTING OLIGARCHY” tour. Continuing their travels, on April 12 they spoke to vulnerable, GOP-held districts in California (San Jose and Los Angeles), Utah, Idaho, and Montana over those next five days. After those appearances, they held the largest political event in Idaho since Obama in 2008. And the fight continues!
Gay makeup artist with a love of theater, Andry Jose Hernandez Romero, had fled Venezuela last summer, and had later been detained in San Diego after border officers wrongfully suspected him of being a Tren de Aragua gang member—something he repeatedly denied. He was “disappeared” (not legally deported) without evidence nor due process on March 15 to an El Salvador prison known for torture, where no one from Romero’s legal team has been able to contact him ever since, and they are very concerned for his safety. Many activists are fighting to bring him back home, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. “Hernandez Romero was denied the opportunity to defend himself against unsubstantiated allegations of gang involvement or to present his asylum claim,” Newsom stated on April 10. “We are not a nation that sends people to be tortured and victimized in a foreign prison for public relations victories.”
Join EQUALITY CALIFORNIA on April 25, 6–10 pm at The Conservatory at One Sansome for the 2025 SAN FRANCISCO EQUALITY AWARDS to celebrate our community and honor the inspirational leaders whose selfless work helps create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people! Co-chair Hon. Rafael Mandelman summed it up best, saying that for 20 years and counting “Our work means that transgender youth and their families can receive healthcare.
It means that access to PrEP and PeP is expanded; IVF is accessible to LGBTQ people and covered by insurance; conversion therapy remains a banned and discredited practice; and so much more.”
https://www.eqca.org/
MSNBC-TV’s Rachel Maddow and Nicolle Wallace are calling out Trump’s lies and corruption every single day. They’re amazing! So, of course, the psychotic, autocratic, oligarchic Trump has angrily officially called for them to be fired from MSNBC. Nonetheless, good Democrats are rallying behind Rachel, Nicolle, and every brave MSNBC journalist who refuses to bend the knee to Trump.
In the latest interview, RFK, Jr., has admitted he has no idea what funding is being cut, why billions are being stripped from local health departments, and acknowledged he’s been firing thousands of the wrong people (as many as 20% of workers were wrongly terminated!). Sister Dana sez, “RFK, Jr., is the most unqualified and incompetent HHS Secretary in history. He should resign, or better yet: be FIRED!”
Join NCLR’s legal experts for a discussion on Trump’s impact for the LGBTQ community with their THE FIRST 100 DAYS, a virtual briefing on May 1, 3 pm, as they cover the executive orders, federal rule changes, proposed congressional legislation, and court rulings from the first 100 days of the Trump administration. You’ll hear from NCLR’s legal staff and have time to ask questions after the presentation. A recording from the event will be shared on their YouTube page following the briefing.
https://www.nclrights.org/
HANDS OFF April 16 ZOOM, Facebook, and other live-streamed events were brilliantly hosted by Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson of Working Families Party—when I learned so much, including when Cathryn Ann Paula Jackson of CASA said, “The kids need their dad,” regarding Maryland undocumented immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia who has three children: two have autism and one has epilepsy. Union member Garcia was wrongfully, illegally abducted to an El Salvador torture prison with no hope of returning to the U.S. if Trump has his way—completely ignoring the United States Supreme Court unanimous ruling to bring him home. National Director of Working Families Party Maurice Mitchell concluded, “Authoritarians and fascists—the worst of the worst—have taken government power and are using it for cruelty. But remember that public courage is contagious!” At the end of that Hands Off mass call, over 150 direct actions had been planned by folx in the ongoing chat. Next up is the May 1 action at https://maydaystrong.org/
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled on April 17 to El Salvador to speak with the spokesperson for the E.S. dictator, but was refused. The Senator was given the chance to talk with Garcia, but not allowed to take him home. Of course, Dictator Donnie-J.T. was furious that anyone should try to free an immigrant from mass deportation.
The good news is that U.S. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNSEL (composed of 18 Intelligence agencies) has finally been contradicting Trump’s justification for mass deportations. Among the discoveries, it has been found that, although there are some low-level contacts between the Maduro government and Tren de Aragua, or TdA, the gang does not operate at the direction of Venezuela’s leader. And El Salvador should not be involved—especially with their heinous prison system.
Longtime Republican operative and Fox News contributor Karl Rove had something he wrote on April 17 for the Wall Street Journal that both shocked and delighted me regarding Trump and his administration with their horrible tariffs and revenge amid the uncertainty around the country’s decline: “It isn’t only inflation and tariffs. Every week the White House throws its weight behind a new issue that went largely or entirely unmentioned during the campaign. Rename the Gulf of Mexico! Acquire Greenland! Take back the Panama Canal! Make Canada the 51st State! Americans find themselves asking, ‘Where did that come from?’” Rove raved on, “There’s way too much retribution. Most of the president’s revenge attempts will end badly for him. Republicans could rue the day they set a new justification for retaliation from Democrats!” Sister Dana sez, “Something I NEVER thought I’d say, but: God bless Rove for his insight!”
At the SHOW OF HOPE on April 18 at the Hyatt Regency, THE SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, under the leadership of SFCHC Chief Executive Officer Director Lance Toma, gave out several amazing awards. Toma was surprised by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to be officially granted sainthood at the event as “Saint Lance-a-lotta Love.” SFCHC honored Mr. David Glamamore and Juanita MORE! with the Arts & Activism Award to the roaring cheers of us assembled fans. Toma said, “In our dear city, two names resonate with power, resilience, and unabashed glamour—Juanita MORE! and Mr. David Glamamore. True icons on the stage and in the streets who embody the essence of art, activism, and fierce individuality. In these challenging times, their lights shine even brighter!”
Toni Newman was named “Health Justice Champion.” She is the Director of The Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements at NMAC in Washington, D.C. She was previously the Interim CEO of the Black AIDS Institute and Interim President of the LYRIC Youth Foundation. Toni is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors for TransCanWork. She serves as the Membership Chair of the California Black Leadership Council and appointed member to the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board. Concluding her acceptance speech, she got us all to chant along, over and over: “When we fight, we win!”
CODE TENDERLOIN was given the Community Impact Award. Relentless in its mission to break down barriers to employment and create equitable access to the tech industry for individuals who have traditionally been excluded—through workforce development, coding classes, professional skill-building, and unwavering mentorship—this organization has helped more than 18,000 people to achieve economic stability.
Handsome ABC-TV news anchor Reggie Aqui emceed with special guest vocalist Ada Vox, the VOICE of Drag, singing live such heart-tugging numbers as “The Impossible Dream” and “Defying Gravity,” crowd-pleasers like “What’s Goin’ On” and “A Natural Woman,” and inspirational pieces like “Pure Imagination,” which she sang and also intermittently played on the flute.
THE SF LGBT CENTER celebrated the Center’s 23 years of service to our LGBTQ community at their annual SOIRÉE 2025 on April 19 at City View Metreon for an evening filled with festivity, reunion, and community brilliance. The dinner program was followed by an awesome after-party. Hosted by Sister Roma and Honey Mahogany with entertainment by Juanita MORE! and music by Lady Ryan, the night featured gorgeous performances, inspirational speeches, and sexy dancing. This was also a time to honor The Center’s Executive Director Rebecca Wolfe, who was retiring after 18 years of service. Senator Scott Wiener took the stage to give her many, many well-deserved accolades. We wish her the best in whatever her next step may be.
Sister Dana sez, “Congratulations and Drag Elations to BOB THE DRAG QUEEN of RuPaul fame for winning the contest After Midnight Mania against comics Paul T. Tompkins and Greta Titelman! That LGBTQrrific late-night CBS-TV comedy show is absolutely hilarious!”
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdom from a Fun Nun
Published on April 24, 2025
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