By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “Not surprising at all, the Republican National Convention did not feature LGBTQ people—let alone issues of importance to our community!”
“Leading up to the RNC, Richard Grenell [out gay Republican former ambassador to Germany] engaged in desperate acts of fanfare to spread lies about the Trump Administration’s anti-LGBTQ record, and tonight he did not utter a mention of LGBTQ people on the main stage,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “He unequivocally does not speak for the vast majority of LGBTQ Americans and allies who see through the Trump Administration’s lies about its abysmal LGBTQ record.”
A state park in New York has been renamed in honor of legendary trans activist Marsha P. Johnson. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on what would have been Johnson’s 75th birthday that the East River State Park in Brooklyn will now officially be known as the MARSHA P. JOHNSON STATE PARK. This is the first state park in New York to honor an LGBTQ person and will reflect “Marsha’s style and colors.”
54TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF COMPTON’S CAFETERIA RIOTS screened on August 28 on the TRANSGENDER DISTRICT’s Facebook page and on ZOOM. It was flawlessly femceed by San Francisco LGBT icons Roma Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and drag artist and Transgender District co-founder, Honey Mahogany. In addition to music and performance festivities, it featured keynote speaker, Dr. Susan Stryker—historian, professor, and Emmy Award winning filmmaker—who shared with us how she discovered the rich history of transgender and queer resilience that nearly vanished from public memory. She noted that the site that was Compton’s Cafeteria is now a halfway house for recently released incarcerated individuals, which is good news; but the bad news is that it is run by a for-profit industrialized prison complex working closely with ICE. I really enjoyed the dramatic reading by actors in the COMPTON’S CAFETERIA RIOT play, written by Donna Personna, Collette LeGrande, and Mark Nassar. Unfortunately, it could not properly open because of the damn virus.
The fabulous DJ Juanita MORE! spun tunes of the 1966 era, which were my jams way back in senior high school. Incredible opera singer Breanna Sinclairé sang the hell out of “Summertime” from Porgy & Bess. Illusionist and reality television star Bionka Simone of AsiaSF and Transcendent gave us sizzling lip-sync. Highly acclaimed rapper and producer Wazi Maret mesmerized. Experimental musician Tyler Holmes and singer/songwriter StormMiguel Florez sang and strummed on their guitars. Latinx DQ Rexy gave us scintillating lip-sync. Transgender drag performers Black Benatar, Sprung T Black, and SnowFlake Towers gave powerful poetry of their experiences, as did several trans people regarding their journeys to authenticity. The sensational night of information and entertainment closed with Juanita spinning more sixties stuff to my personal delight!
SFGMC joins good friends and collaborators at the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir for this uplifting virtual co-choir performance of BETTER, featuring soloist Terrance Kelly. And while on this site, enjoy three dozen more different shows by SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS. https://www.sfgmc.org/in-concert
FRAMELINE, the world’s longest-running and largest showcase of queer cinema, presents FRAMELINE44 FESTIVAL to be held virtually September 17–27. Following Frameline’s successful Pride Showcase, the Frameline44 Festival will be more than double the size of the June event, featuring 35+ films spanning narratives, documentaries, and shorts. Additional programming highlights of the 11-day event include panels and Q&A’s with filmmakers and celebrity guests, the Frameline Award Night on Saturday, September 26, a silent auction, and more. https://www.frameline.org/
Sister Dana sez, “This person noted that at no time before have voters faced a clearer choice ‘between two parties, two visions, two philosophies, or two agendas.’ Who said this? Surprise! It was Trump at the RNC. And we couldn’t agree more!”
2020 marks 40 years in community 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 2100 organizations, including $641,500 in emergency grants to Bay Area LGBTQ organizations in response to the pandemic. This VIRTUAL GALA 40 is Saturday, September 12, 6 pm PST. Discover special guests and join with any donation at https://app.mobilecause.com/e/OnqEnA?vid=azswi
Join EQUALITY CALIFORNIA EQCA on Sunday, September 13, as they celebrate community achievements and honor the inspirational leaders whose selfless work helps create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people, at the first-ever statewide virtual celebration, the GOLDEN STATE EQUALITY AWARDS. This gala will start with regional pre-show programs celebrating LGBTQ+ and allied communities in Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. Then they will bring everyone together from across California (and beyond) to highlight pro-equality champions throughout the state and to enjoy exclusive performances. https://www.eqca.org/equality-awards/golden-state-2020/
On September 1, musical diva Cher headlined an LGBTQ virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden that drew about 500 viewers and raised about $2 million. During the event—which featured out politicians like Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), and former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg—Biden appeared and promised to sign the EQUALITY ACT within his first 100 days as president. The Equality Act would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under federal civil rights legislation.
Sister Dana sez, “Let’s tell Mitch McConnell that it’s time to pass the Equality Act and give the LGBTQ+ community the legal protections they deserve!”
The family of Elizabeth, New Jersey, native and LGBTQ+ Civil Rights activist Marsha P. Johnson has announced the future site of a public monument on Freedom Trail in the City of Elizabeth in Johnson’s honor. The monument is anticipated to be the first public monument in the State of New Jersey to honor an LGBTQ+ person and transgender woman of color. They will host a series of events during LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH (October 2020) to engage with the community and the public to participate in the planning and creating of the historic project.
Senator Scott Wiener’s legislation, SB 132, has passed the state legislature and will now move onto the Governor’s desk for final approval. It passed the Assembly by a vote of 43–13, and passed the Senate on a concurrence vote. SB 132 requires that incarcerated transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) be classified by their gender identity and housed based on their stated health and safety needs (absent specific security or management concerns). It will now move on to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for him to sign into law.
GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY presents MIGHTY REAL: A CELEBRATION OF SYLVESTER, an online forum on September 16, 6–7:30 pm. To celebrate the birthday of the iconic San Francisco disco diva Sylvester (1947–1988), this event will highlight the GLBT Historical Society’s archival holdings documenting the singer’s life and times. In a recorded video, the society’s registrar Ramón Silvestre will present some of the Sylvester-related objects in the Art and Artifacts Collection. Footage features some moving clips of Sylvester performing sentimental standards backed by a jazz band. https://bit.ly/3f8IZ1e
Lisa Geduldig presents LOCKDOWN COMEDY every 3rd Thursday of the month. The Thursday, September 17, 7 pm PST show will feature three Los Angeles-based comedians: Wendy Liebman, Matt Kirshen, and Sampson McCormick; and from Florida, Lisa and her 89-year-old mother, the budding comedian, Arline Geduldig, as the monthly special guest. Lisa is a San Francisco-based comedian and comedy producer who is most known for her annual comedy tradition, KUNG PAO KOSHER COMEDY, hilarious Jewish comedy on Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant, which celebrates its 28th year this December (albeit this year in Cyberspace). Before the pandemic, Lisa had been running a monthly decade-long comedy show at El Rio in San Francisco where her comedy career began 30 years ago. https://www.facebook.com/events/1215312618824259
“REIGNING QUEENS: THE LOST PHOTOS OF ROZ JOSEPH,” presents evocative photographs of San Francisco’s epic drag and costume balls of the mid-1970s. The color images were created by noted photographer Roz Joseph, whose drag-queen series was rediscovered after she donated the work to the GLBT Historical Society. The online exhibition will be launched on September 21. https://www.glbthistory.org/reigning-queens
Mayor London N. Breed and City Administrator Naomi M. Kelly have announced approximately $12.8 million in general operating support grants to fund 227 arts and cultural organizations that enhance the City’s cultural vibrancy. This year’s GRANTS FOR THE ARTS (GFTA) funding comes after an internal review of the City’s grantmaking to better support organizations embedded in and serving San Francisco’s diverse communities.
Trump suggested voting twice, once by mail and once in person. The Presi-dense encouraged voters to cast ballots twice to ensure their vote was counted. Note that intentionally voting twice is illegal, and in many states, including North Carolina, it is a felony.
Sister Dana sez, “Tell me, Commander-in-Thief, will our mail-in ballots count or not?!”
Published on September 10, 2020
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