By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun–
Sister Dana sez, “Testing! Testing! (tap tap tap – is this mic on?) All of us Californians MUST get tested for C-19! Our beloved House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said so!”
Senator Scott Wiener told me, “Congrats to our 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in the #MASKSAREFIERCE
contest: Sarah Boll, Natalie Walsh, Christina Molcillo!” He added, “I hope these creative masks inspire others. And thanks to our amazing panel of drag queen judges who chose our winners.” He concluded, “Now make sure to wear your masks!” Over 150 participants were encouraged to submit fabulous and safety-compliant masks for judging. Senator Wiener and SF’s famed drag queens, Bebe Sweetbriar, Peaches Christ, and Donna Sachet, served as judges. Fierce!
Nearly 500,000 LGBTQ+ students are graduating this year. The HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN and GLSEN, an organization devoted to advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in K-12 education, are partnering to host a virtual graduation ceremony on May 8. Good friends at PFLAG will be there rallying parents and other family members to cheer on grads, too. https://tinyurl.com/yd2xxpss
Three organizations serving vulnerable LGBTQ populations—FAMILY EQUALITY, TRUE COLORS UNITED, and SAGE—have sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its unlawful November 2019 announcement that it would stop enforcing anti-discrimination protections against federal grantees that deny services to, or otherwise discriminate against, individuals. The administration’s unlawful action endangers already vulnerable populations, especially as the country confronts the coronavirus pandemic. The lawsuit was filed by Democracy Forward and Lambda Legal. BTW the LAMBDA LEGAL SOIRÉE has been rescheduled to September 10, 6–9 pm at The Pearl. https://www.lambdalegal.org/
Sister Dana sez, “It has just been reported that 80.3% of Democratic Respondents believe Trump should go to JAIL for his NEGLIGENT leadership during the current crisis. Yeah, that’s just ONE reason to put him in the pokey!”
THE CASTRO FARMERS’ MARKET (every Wednesday, 2:30–7 pm) needs volunteers to enforce social distancing measures so neighbors can safely shop for fresh vegetables, fruits, and foods. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Mia Simmans at 415-994-8240 or via email, miasimmans@pcfma.org
Taylor Swift performs her latest heartfelt song during these awful times, “Soon You’ll Get Better,” and listening to this we just can’t help but get a little better: https://tinyurl.com/y7vyc93u
Sister Dana sez, “May 10 is Mother’s Day. So, I wish all you mothers a very happy day! And that includes drag mothers as well!”
TOGETHER SF is a new nonprofit dedicated to connecting neighbors in need with able volunteers and connecting volunteers with other nonprofits that need help. If you find yourself with free time, you might consider donating some of that time to the community. Visit Together SF’s website or call them at 415-480-1566 for more information. https://www.togethersf.org/
Sister Dana sez, “Regarding foolish protesters (suffering from moron-a-virus) refusing to take proper precautions, I saw this online: ‘They say you can’t fix stupid. Turns out you can’t quarantine it either!'”
AIDS/LIFECYCLE will not return this year due to COVID-19 concerns, halting the annual fundraiser for HIV/AIDS service providers for the first time since it began in 1994. Not only will it be emotionally devastating to riders and crew, but also it will be a major blow to fundraising efforts for HIV/AIDS services: the event brought in $16.8 million in 2019, $16.6 million in 2018, and $15.4 million in 2017.
The Bay Area performing duo, Emma’s Revolution, have created a parody song and accompanying video that is an online hit, providing some much-needed inspiration and laughter during the pandemic. “FROM A (SOCIAL) DISTANCE” is based on the original song by Julie Gold, recorded by the Divine Bette Midler in 1990, and now offers musical advice for these terrible times. It’s both serious and humorous. https://tinyurl.com/y7bepkhv
Sister Dana sez, “Having just heard Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day sing ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends,’ I am hoping all of us will awaken from this horrible pandemic after September!”
I love HBO-TV comic newscaster John Oliver for scrambling the letters of “CORONAVIRUS” to read a much nicer “VARIOUS CORN.” Silly, but try it yourself!
Sister Dana sez, “Liar-in-Chief Trump has repeatedly exhorted, ‘We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself.’ No, dummy Donald, the cure is definitely our goal! And science, not Fox News, is the way!”
NETFLIX is now screening a new series, HOLLYWOOD, by openly gay, openly clever Ryan Murphy. This delicious show follows a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood as they try to make it in Tinseltown—any way they can. It’s listed as LGBTQ! www.netflix.com/Hollywood
Novice Sister Celine Dyonysos of The SF Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has created a very helpful site for dealing with pandemic issues. The official motto of SPI is “promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt.” So, here is some joy without guilt: https://www.thesisters.org/joy
One of my fave parodists, Chris Mann, has a hysterical C-19 take on a 1979 golden oldie, “My Sharona,” entitled MY CORONA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojrtwXqqc6g
Sister Dana sez, “As a politics junkie, I watch a lot of MSNBC and local news. And I am so grateful for my DVR to record everything. But when I see that ugly orange face and his anti-gay Veep, I simply hit ‘fast forward’ to get past them and on to Dr. Fauci and other learned people.”
Message from Elizabeth Warren: “Our Postal Service is on the verge of collapse. I’m calling on Congress to shore up USPS so as many Americans as possible can vote from home.”
“50 YEARS OF PRIDE” opens on the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY’s website on May 15. The installation at SF City Hall will follow when the state’s shelter-in-place order has been relaxed. https://www.glbthistory.org/50-years-of-pride
A major cable network will be doing a documentary profile on José Julio Sarria (gay activist and founder of the INTERNATIONAL COURT SYSTEM). THE NELLY QUEEN will be aired in June 2020. For much more information on ICS: http://www.imperialcouncilsf.org/
The new “queereality” series, WE’RE HERE, on HBO features RuPaul superstars, Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadley putting on one-night-only drag shows with locals in need of a little support and empowerment. Fierce and heartwarming! I laughed! I cried! I cried a lot. Check your local HBO service. https://tinyurl.com/yblc5w48
Can’t get enough drag realness? Tune into TLC-TV for DRAGNIFICENT! with four delightful superstar DQs: Alexis Michelle, Bebe Zahara Benet, Jujubee, and Thorgy Thor being similar to We’re Here. Dragalicious! https://tinyurl.com/y9or3o33
Please sign this petition: Dr. Fauci is saving lives. Trump must not fire him. https://tinyurl.com/ydxqjmzr
Sister Dana sez, “Trump released his horrifying new budget, and it cuts BILLIONS from Social Security and Medicare. Republicans have been working toward this moment for years. This must stop!”
I am not happy to say that FOLSOM STREET EVENTS (FSE) has announced that this year’s UP YOUR ALLEY, FOLSOM STREET FAIR, and related events will be held virtually rather than in-person. They will produce virtual events to celebrate the historic fair weekends by staying socially connected while physically distant. The new events will be on the weekends of July 26 and September 27. For more information, visit https://www.folsomstreetevents.org/
Additionally, REAL BAD32 fundraising leather dance party has been canceled. https://www.facebook.com/REALBAD/
Mayor London Breed has announced that the City’s ARTS AND ARTISTS RELIEF FUND has made its first round of grants and loans, providing $1.5 million in much-needed financial support for the local arts sector struggling from substantial income loss due to COVID‑19. Mayor Breed launched the Arts and Artists Relief Fund on March 23.
Sister Dana sez, “What nerve that a group is threatening legal action and demanding payment for use of the Bisexual Pride Flag! That symbol freely belongs to the community, and they are Bi-Furious!”
You absolutely must hear our SF gem, Jason Brock, singing his witty C-19 parody of the Whitney Houston hit, “I Have Nothing,” with the revised title, “Nothing Else to Do.” https://tinyurl.com/y7gdz43x
The latest ROFL Randy Rainbow C-19 song parody should be taken with “A Spoonful of Clorox”—but please don’t! https://tinyurl.com/y75c2l4a
I hope everybody is watching SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE AT HOME broadcast on NBC. It’s even better than the live show—seeing how stars cleverly adapt with skits in seclusion.
May 8 continues Full Moon Fridays: Live Cabaret Series when it’s Ladies Night! Live cabaret features music from all female songwriters; sung by some of 42ND STREET MOON‘s favorite ladies. https://tinyurl.com/y9pp5xgd
THE GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY has unveiled an online version of its exhibition, “Performance, Protest and Politics: The Art of Gilbert Baker,” which I enjoyed at the Museum on November 1. My dear friend, artist/activist Sister Chanel 2001 aka Gilbert Baker (1951–2017), designed the iconic rainbow flag.
https://www.glbthistory.org/gilbert-baker-exhibition
Sister Dana sez, “Here in my Castro gayborhood, we have a charming nightly ritual. At 8 pm, we shout out our open windows with a loud, long WOOOOO! It shows a salute to our first responders, a sense of community, and is kind of a safety valve. Try it!”
Published on May 7, 2020
Recent Comments