–By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “T-rump’s tweet proposing a ban on transgenders serving in the military is set to become policy. The necessary memo, outlining guidelines and directing the Department of Defense to implement the policy, are being delivered to Defense Secretary James Mattis. However, this policy is unconstitutional and is a direct violation of Title VII, which protects individuals from sex-based harassment in the workplace, and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees that all persons will be treated equally. Period! So there!!!”
The RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) presented HELP IS ON THE WAY 23 – Puttin’ On The Glitz, celebrating music, legends & icons, their 23rd Annual Gala as a benefit for Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, & Positive Resource Center at Herbst Theatre. There was a glorious VIP Gala Reception in the Green Room, prior to the Performance at 7:30 pm; then the lovely Club REAF After Party with the cast and music by DJ’s GoBANG!. Some of the performers included Levi Kress, Trent Harmon, Jessica Sanchez, Maureen McGovern, David Burnham, Lisa Vroman, Carole Cook, Garrett Clayton, Maddie Baillio, Paula West, Jason Brock, Lisa Viggiano, and Eileen & Leah Bourgade. “Help is on the Way” is Northern California’s largest annual benefit concert benefiting HIV/AIDS and hunger programs. It’s always an elegant evening of wonderful music, delicious food and beverages tastings and, most of all, fun. reaf-sf.org
GAPA (Gay Asian Pacific Alliance) presented Runway 29: SLAYYY-vatar” The Legend of GAPA at Herbst Theatre. Long ago, there was harmony throughout the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance community. Then, everything was Trumped! Only the Slayyyvatar could restore the unity within GAPA and save the world. We joined GAPA for San Francisco’s most popular annual pageant that celebrates the gaysian community—where candidates vied to be crowned Mister and Miss GAPA 2017, and where the new Slayyyvatar fabulously re-emerged. But there was a slight controversy; so now for a word from GAPA organizers to explain: “GAPA Foundation would like to, first and foremost, thank all the attendees and candidates for making GAPA Runway 29 a success. Without your support, this production for the community by the community would not be possible. With that said, GAPA Foundation would like to apologize for a tabulation error that was identified following the completion of the show. After further investigation and recalculation, we have determined that the highest scoring candidate for Miss GAPA 2017 is Ehra Amaya. GAPA Foundation sincerely apologizes for this mistake, but we believe that this is an opportunity for us to break the norm that in order for one person to win, another must lose. After speaking with both Mimi Osa and Ehra Amaya, the GAPA Foundation Board has decided to award both candidates the title of Miss GAPA 2017. As a result, please join us in congratulating our new royals: Miss GAPA 2017, Mimi Osa; Miss GAPA 2017, Ehra Amaya; and Mr. GAPA 2017, Danny Chung. GAPA Foundation looks forward to working with our winners this coming year!” gapafoundation.org
Some of us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and our friends and a gay priest decided to do some chalk art on Jane Warner Plaza to demonstrate love not hate and acceptance not discrimination during these terrible T-rump times of terror. We welcomed interested passersby to join us and pick up some chalk and sprinkle some glitter around. Even though most of our art disappeared the next day, we made a tiny difference for a moment in the world—well, at least in the Castro anyway.
San Francisco came together to resist hate and bigotry. Protests, non-profit events, dance parties and marches were planned across the City to express our collective disgust with white supremacy, Fascism, and Nazism. At noon on August 26, Juanita MORE! hosted the OFFICIAL RALLY AND MARCH FOR EQUALITY from Harvey Milk Plaza to Civic Center along with community leaders: Cleve Jones, Honey Mahogany, Sister Roma, Ani Rivera, Mercedez Munro , Alex U. Inn, Roberto Ordenana, Don Romesburg, Cecilia Chung, and Lito Sandoval. The event was open to everyone who believes in diversity, inclusivity, and the power of a free and equal democracy. There were speeches by leaders from the community. Unlike some other demonstrations, this was peaceful and loving with no damage and zero arrests.
Each year, a panel of diverse judges awards absolutely fabulous Parade participants in numerous categories. Award ribbons are distributed to the winners on Parade Day. The judges also nominate up to five (5) nominees for the Best of the Best Overall Parade Award for a public vote. Best Overall nominees for 2017: Cal Aggie Marching Band-Uh!, California Bluegrass Association, El/La Para TransLatinas, Glide Memorial Church, and Planned Parenthood of Northern CA. Cast a vote for your favorite before 6 pm on Friday, September 8. The winner of the Best of the Best Overall Parade Contingent award will be announced at the September 9 Community Partners Check Granting and Parade Awards Party. Only one vote per person. Duplicates or multiples will be disqualified. sfpride.org
With 10 Tony nominations including Best Musical, “SOMETHING ROTTEN!” is a not rotten but very fresh and fabulous hit! Set in the ‘90s—the 1590s—this hilarious smash musical tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom (Tony nominee Rob McClure and Broadway’s Josh Grisetti), two brothers who are desperate to write their own hit play while the “rock star” Shakespeare (Tony nominee Adam Pascal) keeps getting all the hits. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time (heretofore an unheard of combination) Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first MUSICAL! My friend took me to see this Something Rotten show, and I cannot stop raving about it. It’s at SHN Orpheum Theatre.
SISTER DANA SEZ, “SOMETHINGS THAT ARE NOT ROTTEN ARE COMING UP SOON. CHECK ‘EM OUT!
Sculptures, vibrant colors, and textiles will be celebrated on September 9 at Thomasina DeMaio‘s ART SAVES LIVES GALLERY, at 518 Castro Street in the Castro. The gallery has fostered an ongoing partnership with THE ARC SAN FRANCISCO, a nonprofit that aims to aid adults with developmental disabilities in living independent and enriched lives. The resulting collaboration is an art show showcasing the work of dozens of developmentally disabled clients of The Arc. To help them to learn a sense of entrepreneurship, half of the proceeds from the sale of each work will go directly to the artist, while the other half will be returned to The Arc’s art programs. The Art Saves Lives Gallery is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12–9 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 12–4 pm. thearcsf.org
On Friday, September 8, 8–10 pm, STRUT at 470 Castro Street is having a wine & nibblies reception for the work of Karl Fjelstrom entitled “SCATTERED.” He is a San Francisco based artist, using the traditional medium of oil paint on canvas and rendering subjects in a photo-realistic style so the focus is taken off the technique and placed solely on the image. ARTIST STATEMENT: “Scrambled or ‘Scattered’ porn is something you may have stumbled across during adolescence: late at night. You couldn’t always see a clear picture, but you knew what was happening. As a painter, I have always enjoyed making images where the subject matter isn’t so specific that everything is spelled out for the viewer.” He continues, “My goal with this collection is to showcase the male physique by taking the normally objectified perspective of gay pornographic culture and elevating it to the point of fine art. The images are ‘creatively censored’ by dissecting, cropping, or blurring out various parts of the composition, much like that of watching scattered channels on a television. Since there are technically no depictions of full-on genitalia, it is not overtly obscene. It blurs the line of erotica and pornography, a theme prominent in gay culture. strutsf.org
THE GOLDEN GATE GAYMES AND PICNIC is a tradition for the finale of the Mr. and Miss Golden Gate titleholders, William Bulkley & Mimi Osa. Saturday, September 9, 11 am–3 pm, 100 Collingwood Street. Join them for food, fun and “gaymes” in Collingwood Park. They are asking for a small donation for food and beverages. Register your four-person team for a chance to win some lovely commemorative medallions! The Gaymes conclude and the party carries on at Animal House at Beaux at 4 pm.
Get ready to hear Driver Doug recite chapters from his latest book, “THE DAO OF DOUG 2: THE ART OF DRIVING A BUS – KEEPING ZEN IN SAN FRANCISCO TRANSIT: A LINE TRAINER’S GUIDE,” at Art Saves Lives Castro Studio and Performance Space, 518 Castro Street on Tuesday, September 12. Hosted by Uel Renteria. Reception 6:30 pm, Reading 7 pm, book signing 7:30 pm. daoofdoug.com
Co-Chairs Peter Borkon, Sean Livingston, and Megan Minkiewicz invite you to TRIBUTE 35, an inspiring evening at City Hall marking 35 years of SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION honoring leaders in the response to HIV and uniting to face the challenges ahead. Saturday, September 16, 6 pm VIP reception, dinner at 8 pm, at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place. Be inspired as they present the 2017 Cleve Jones Award and Community Excellence Award. Tribute Celebration is an annual gala in support of education, advocacy, and direct services in communities most vulnerable to HIV. sfaf.org
FOLSOM STREET EVENTS presents LeatherWalk as the official kick-off for San Francisco’s Leather Week, which culminates one week later at the Folsom Street Fair. We walk together to celebrate leather, kink, family and community—all while raising funds for Folsom Street Events and Positive Resource Center. Each year, hundreds of LeatherWalkers take over Market Street and march from the Castro to SoMa. The 26th annual LeatherWalk takes place on Sunday, September 17. On-site registration and check-in begins at 10 am at 440 Castro. Please check in at the bar, drop off your last-minute donations, and get your collectible LeatherWalk pin. Entertainment starts at 11:30 am at Jane Warner Plaza. The walk itself plans to start moving at 12 pm from the front of Castro Theatre. The walk features Master of Ceremonies Sister Roma with performances by some of San Francisco’s most amazing vocal and drag talent. Watering Hole Stops include Oasis (Stop #1), Powerhouse (Stop #2), Mr. S Leather (Stop #3), Lone Star (NEW) (Stop #4), The Stud (NEW) (Stop #6) and the SF Eagle (final stop, closing beer bust). classy.org/san-francisco/events/leatherwalk-2017/e131804
Sister Dana sez, “Greetings to all who have returned from Burning Man in the Black Rock desert! We here in the Bay Area had our own version—what with record-breaking triple digit degree heat. Man, that Burns!”
Recent Comments