By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “Representative Hakeem Jeffries said it best: Trump has ‘a Masters in Manipulation and a PhD in Deception’!”
“It’s such an honor to be able to be here and speak truthfully, honestly from my heart, what I know my father believes in,” said Tiffany Totally Trump in her speech at a sparsely attended “Trump PRIDE” rally. “Prior to politics, he supported gays, lesbians, LGBQIA+ [sic] community. OK?”
Sister Dana sez, “No, not OK! You excluded Transgenders, just like your father. How dare you use the term ‘PRIDE’ when T-rump is nothing but shame!”
We travelled back in time on October 22 to MARIE’S CRISIS, the greatest sing-along, show tunes bar in history, and the mystery surrounding its name and Thomas Paine. This was one of the 32nd one-man corona shows via Zoom written by and performed by my good friend, John Fisher, director of THEATRE RHINOCEROS. Theatre Rhinoceros was established over 40 years ago with the vision that queer people, as a population marginalized or ostracized by society, need space in which their artists can create and produce. Likewise, queer audiences deserve to see their lives represented on stage. History reveals an evolution in our consciousness to include BIPOC artists and audiences in this mission. So, please allow me to take you with me on John’s sensational show. Skip the first hour to start the show. https://tinyurl.com/yyp8shcd
Sister Dana sez, “After that second DEBATE, I can only visualize DarnOld Trump as an orange orangutan out of control, raging, screaming, and throwing feces! And what a joy it will be when that monster’s mic is muted forever!”
I and so many of his fabulous queer family mourn the loss of an icon of our community, Tom Taylor, who brought so much joy to us with his and his partner Dr. Jerry Goldstein‘s TOM & JERRY CHRISTMAS TREE HOUSE. This dynamic duo sponsored the RAINBOW FLAG that flies flawlessly in the Castro (continuing Flag creator Gilbert Baker‘s legacy), and makes sure the Flag flies freely along Market Street every Pride Month in EssEff. Please take a look back at this remarkable life and his achievements in this issue.
CONCERT FROM HOME was the October 24 Community Concert by SAN FRANCISCO LESBIAN/GAY FREEDOM BAND. The concert included many exciting pieces celebrating our community’s strength, resiliency, and hope for the future: La Réjouissance (the Joy) from “Music for the Royal Fireworks” (George Frideric Handel); A Quiet Journey Home (Ayatey Shabazz); Alegre (Tania León); Hands Across the Sea—along with Portland’s ROSE CITY PRIDE BAND with flag twirlers—introduced by Mayor London Breed; the inspirational This Is Me from THE GREATEST SHOWMAN; Dancing Queen encouraging us to disco away with my fave solo singer Leanne Borghesi; and, of course, I Left My Heart in San Francisco (also soloed by Leanne). The pre-show music was from SFL/GFB’s A SAN FRANCISCO AFFAIR. There was a special Tribute in memory of Tom Taylor, a huge supporter of the Band. https://bit.ly/2Tn2QRN
Sister Dana sez, “Typhoid Trumpy has claimed, ‘We are rounding the corner about Covid.’ If so, we’re heading directly toward an oncoming speeding freight train! All aboard Choo-choo Covid, everyone!”
You probably know Sarah Cooper for her hysterical, spot-on lip-syncs of Trump’s stupid words. But now you get to know her genius in a Netflix special, “EVERYTHING’S FINE,” with a long list of Hollywood co-stars ranging from Whoopi Goldberg to John Hamm to Maya Rudolph on the fakest of fake news satire for these tempestuous times. I guarantee you will bust a gut laughing!
Sister Dana sez, “I just found out that Democratic Senator Cory Booker and vote-getter RuPaul are cousins. Sing along with me: ‘It’s a drag world after all!'”
To the delight of us leather/feather/fetish SM/BD folx and fans, GRASS ROOTS GAY RIGHTS FOUNDATION held a VIRTUAL CHECK CELEBRATION to distribute $20,000 each to two deserving beneficiaries on October 29. The evening included special performances by DQ extraordinaire Grace Towers, bearded and beautiful, who occasionally lip-synced through an electronic light-up mask (so safe, and yet so easy to “sing” through), but then showed her superior talents mask-less with those GORGEOUS lips! Keith Lawrence preceded his song urging, “Let’s get this Cheeto outta here!” and gave us an original angry, mournful song calling out the Orange Ogre for his endless lies. SFGMC Associate Director Mitch Galli noted that the Chorus is all about music AND activism, giving us the not terribly happy news that Season 43 would be strictly online.
He introduced members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, who made us cry for their extremely emotional “Seasons of Love” from RENT.
GRGRF Executive Director Dave Hendrickson welcomed us. He introduced one of the two beneficiaries of the REAL BAD annual fundraiser, AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL (ALRP), E.D. Bill Hirsch, who spoke of the current concern of people with AIDS being evicted from their homes and how volunteer lawyers can help. APIENC was the second beneficiary. Sammie explained that API Equality – Northern California builds transgender, non-binary, and queer API (Asian and Pacific Islander) power. E.D. Jonathan Cook told us of the current COVID-19 struggle of SOLANO PRIDE CENTER. Awards were given: Rookie of the Year was Chris Hanner; Events Leader was Philip Grasso; Man of the Year was events coordinator Miguel Jiminez (who returns next year in that position); he presented the Founders Award to Dave Hendrickson, who steps down this year. Board Secretary Scott Shouse is also stepping down. Various folx lauded the annual fundraiser REAL BAD for their unforgettable dance nights and margarita parties! Oh, how I miss those leatheriffic times!
I was thrilled to catch the virtual STUD IN EXILE presenting HALLOWEEN DRAG ALIVE ONLINE on October 31. Hosts were Jillian Gnarling & Hollywood Texas with DJ Juanita MORE! spinning the spookiest of tunes such as “Monster Mash,” “Bewitched,” and “Addams Family.” Superb performances were by Nicki Jizz, Dvvsk, Hollow Eve, Boy Young, Mary Vice, God’s Lil Princess, Vanilla Meringue, and Zojob & Evian. The delightful show made up for my major disappointment of not being part of the big, bold, creative costumed folx partying in my Castro hood. We all followed orders and kept the population small and masked. I wore a black tee shirt with large orange neon lettering: “PROMOTE HOMOSEXUALITY” and a nametag saying: “Gay Recruiter.”
Mayor London N. Breed and Treasurer José Cisneros have announced that San Francisco will provide $2.5 million in support for entertainment and nightlife venues in the form of additional fee and tax waivers. These businesses have been in large part unable to open due to COVID-19 and need assistance now. Waiving license and business registration fees and taxes for these businesses is part of Mayor Breed’s efforts to support San Francisco’s economic recovery, as is aligned with the policy recommendations from the Economic Recovery Task Force. “We want to make sure these businesses are still around to bring music, performances, and excitement, as well as to provide jobs for so many,” said Mayor Breed. “Entertainment and nightlife are such an important part of why people live and visit our city, and we hope these additional fee waivers reduce some of the financial stress they’re experiencing.”
Patti LaBelle, Grammy Award-winning music legend and recipient of this year’s SYLVESTER COMMUNITY PILLAR AWARD, will join PRC for an intimate evening of song and celebration on November 7, 6 pm, with special guests Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Andre Leon Talley, Mayor London Breed, and more. It will be a live-streamed concert. All proceeds go to support PRC’s lifesaving, integrated social, legal, and health services to help the City’s most vulnerable populations. https://prcsf.org/
Just one week after the election, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, and as calls for racial justice ring louder than ever, where are we headed in the LGBTQ movement? Join movement leaders in this important virtual discussion, hosted annually by HORIZONS FOUNDATION, on Thursday, November 12, 5 pm. Panelists are Kris Hayashi of Transgender Law Center, Kierra Johnson of The National LGBTQ Task Force, Isa Noyola of Mijente, and Imani Rupert-Gordon of National Center for Lesbian Rights. https://tinyurl.com/y4smxxa8
THE SAN FRANCISCO TRANSGENDER FILM FESTIVAL (SFTFF) will take place online November 12–15. Founded in 1997 as North America’s first transgender film festival, they exhibit groundbreaking, provocative, outrageous, courageous, moving, and innovative works that show the complexity of lives lived on the transgender spectrum. http://sftff.org/
The final EUREKA VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION meeting of the year will be on Zoom on Thursday, November 19, 7 pm. The theme is “Holding Our Elected Officials Accountable.” Assemblymember David Chiu is attending, as well as many other guests. https://evna.org/
Sister Dana sez, “Let’s light up the neon Castro Theatre sign! In these dark times, we need to let the neon glow at night and proudly proclaim our gayborhood!”
Published on November 5, 2020
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