By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “This Thanksgiving, I’d like to give thanks that I’m gay. Yes, I am thankful to God I’m gay. TGIG: Thank God I’m Gay! In fact, I’d like to change the entire name of the holiday to ThanksGAYing!”
GOLDEN GATE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION held its 40TH ANNIVERSARY GRAND RECEPTION at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House in honor of LGBTQ entrepreneurs and four decades of being the nation’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce. With members who live and do business across San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Marin counties, and beyond, GGBA proudly serves as the voice for the San Francisco Bay Area’s LGBTQ business community. Their mission is to champion opportunity, development, and advocacy for the LGBTQ & allied business community. We celebrated the GGBA’s accomplishments over the past 40 years, recognized some astonishing accomplishments of local queer entrepreneurs who have literally transformed the world we live in, honored the Past-President Jerry Becerra of Barbary Insurance Brokerage, and immediate Past-President Eric Goforth, board of directors, and staff of the GGBA for their leadership, and learned how the GGBA has uniquely positioned LGBTQ businesses on the local, statewide, and national level to achieve substantial financial growth. The Grand Reception was attended by approximately 400 of the most successful LGBTQ business owners in the Bay Area, California leaders from throughout the spectrum of the business community, corporation procurement representatives, key public agency and department directors, as well as elected officials and special invited guests. There were remarks by Grand Reception Chair Michael Gentleman, GGBA President Robb Fleischer, and Vice President Dawn Ackerman. Senator Mark Leno sent a Certificate of Recognition for GGBA’s accomplishments. Mayor Ed Lee lauded GGBA and proudly congratulated everyone on the Giants’ pennant win. He concluded, “To me, as part of my civil rights background, economics is the civil rights movement in the county and City of San Francisco.” He added, “And we have gay and lesbian supervisors to work together in the fight against AIDS and change federal policy for LGBT human rights.” Supervisor Scott Wiener also spoke of the importance of LGBT-run businesses.
THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE held our sixth annual charity fundraiser, PROJECT NUNWAY: 666 HERETICS OF FASHION at SOMArts Cultural Center – with money raised from the event granted to underfunded nonprofits here in San Francisco. First prize went to Sister Jezabelle of the Enraptured Sling, with first runner-up as Sister Titania Humperpickle. Sister Dana was one of the merry models strutting her stuff, whose completely recycled couture as Fallen Angel was fashioned by Trash Mash-Up designers.
Along with the main event of the runway fashion show, special guest vocalist Carletta Sue Kay, Grace Towers & her human SM doggies, the Devil-ettes dancing, co-emcees Peaches Christ & Sister Roma also appeared. Celebrity judges included Jane Weidlin from the Go-Gos, Sergio Quintana from “Channel 7 News,” Mr. David Glamamore, Couturier to the Stars, Steven LeMay, proprietor of Retro Fit vintage fashions, and Dolin Bliss O’Shea, author of Famous Frocks: The Little Black Dress. The festivities featured a tribute to Sasha Fleishman, the Oakland transgender teen whose skirt was set on fire in a hate crime. Sasha’s proud parents were also in attendance. It was all very fashionably fabulous. In the words of Project Runway’s Tim Gunn: We made it work!!!
The LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER presented THE 2014 BOLD AWARDS at the Center – a Ceremony and Reception honoring those creating a stronger and healthier community. Stirring opening remarks were by Center Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe. Honorees were Juanita More! who received the Community Spirit Award; Rob Evans & Terry Micheau, who received the Good Neighbor Award presented by State Farm; and San Francisco Human Rights Commission with the Vanguard Award; with special tributes to The Members of the #MyNameIs Facebook Campaign and former Members of the Center’s Board of Directors.
SF Transgender Day of Remembrance 2014 was commemorated at the SF LGBT Community Center with co-emcees Alex Bergeron & Rexy Amaral. Across the globe, Transgender Day of Remembrance memorializes transgender and gender nonconforming people who have been killed as a result of transphobia. In 1999, in response to the murder of Rita Hester in Alliston, MA, a handful of transgender people sought to highlight the need for awareness around anti-transgender violence -founding TDOR by holding in silent testimony the names of those lost. TDOR continues to bring attention to the staggering violence endured by our community. Speakers included Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Jewlyes Gutierrez Klazson, Dominique Leslie, and Isa Noyola.
The Board of Directors of FOLSOM STREET EVENTS announced charitable giving in the amount of $322,666. This takes the agency’s charitable donations to nearly $5.5 million since it first started. Beneficiaries include Castro Country Club, Frameline, Hospitality House, National AIDS Memorial Grove, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and Westside Community Services, amongst others. In total, they are supporting over 70 great charities.
CASTRO COMMUNITY ON PATROL (CCOP) celebrated eight years of service to the community by partnering with Magnet SF to host a free community self-defense seminar as their way of saying “Thank You” to the Castro/Duboce Triangle neighborhood they serve.
CUMMING UP!
Shanti Project says: On WORLD AIDS DAY, let us thank YOU with GRATITUDE IN THE GROVE! During the early days of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, SHANTI PROJECT volunteers provided courageous love during the darkest of times; they exemplified the heartfelt response San Francisco is known for providing. To commemorate 40 years of service, on World AIDS Day, December 1, 5:30-8pm in the National AIDS Memorial Grove, Nancy Pelosi Drive & Bowling Green Drive, Shanti Project is hosting an evening of reflection, connection, gratitude, and dancing for former volunteers and HIV/AIDS volunteer caregivers at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. Celebratory dancing with DJ Page Hodel will follow the short program. FREE with RSVP at shantialumni2014.eventbrite.com
Do you need a ride “Celebrating Heroes of the AIDS Epidemic on World AIDS Day?” They’ve got you covered! Gray Line buses has graciously donated a charter bus to escort guests to and from the Grove. To secure your ride, please RSVP at shantialumni2014.eventbrite.com
LIGHT IN THE GROVE is Sunday, November 30, from 6:30-9:30pm in the National AIDS Memorial Grove, Nancy Pelosi Drive & Bowling Green Drive. On the eve of World AIDS Day, the National AIDS Memorial Grove will once again hold its annual Light in the Grove fundraising gala, a celebration of life and remembrance of those we have lost. This iconic event offers a nighttime journey through darkness and light, loss and hope. A sell-out the past four years, Light in the Grove offers a unique evening experience in Golden Gate Park; an outdoor, transparently-tented celebration with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dinner, featuring music, performance, art, and brilliantly evocative, surreal and technical displays of light. This year’s honorees are Ken Henderson, executive director, and Joe Seiler, board chair, of THE RICHMOND/ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION (REAF). Festive warm attire encouraged. aidsmemorial.org
RAINBOW WORLD FUND invites you to the 9th Annual RWF WORLD TREE OF HOPE OFFICIAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION in City Hall Rotunda featuring a concert by the Grammy winning San Francisco Boys Chorus; emcee Cheryl Jennings, Mayor Ed Lee and Consul General of Japan Masato Watanabe, who will exchange peace cranes, Cleve Jones delivering a message of hope; singer Veronica Klaus with pianist Tammy Hall performing, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessing the tree, and much more. Monday, December 1, 6:30-9pm, Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street. FREE admission, refreshments following tree lighting.
THE GOLDEN GIRLS: THE CHRISTMAS EPISODES! is coming December 4–21. Everyone’s favorite Holiday drag tradition is back! 12 performances only, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays – 8pm, Sundays – 7pm, starring Heklina, Cookie Dough, Matthew Martin, Pollo Del Mar as the Girls, and co-starring Manuel Caneri, Peter Griggs, Tom Shaw, and Jordan Wheeler. The Historic Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street @ Mission/Capp. More info in December 4th edition of the San Francisco Bay Times. trannyshack.com, cookievision.com
DONNA SACHET’s 22nd Annual SONGS OF THE SEASON, benefiting AIDS EMERGENCY FUND (AEF) is Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 1st, 2nd and 3rd, at the beautiful Franciscan Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell Street. If you have never attended this amazing holiday cabaret show, you will be in for a real treat. The show promises you an evening filled with a variety of locally and internationally recognized and spirited entertainers, all determined to usher you into the joy and excitement of the holiday season. As always, prepare to smile, laugh, applaud, and even shed a nostalgic tear or two as a talented group of performers and friends join Donna in sharing the magic. Doors open 7pm, show at 8pm. songsoftheseason.net
Sister Dana sez, “Congratulations to South Carolina – issuing first same-sex marriage licenses to six couples in Charleston. And kudos to U.S. District Court of Montana ruling in favor of four same-sex couples suing for marriage. Meanwhile, The Michigan same-sex marriage SCOTUS petition— DeBoer v. Snyder—has now been docketed as 14-571. The Kentucky petition—Love v. Beshear—has been docketed as 14-574. All four of the challenges to the Sixth Circuit’s decision are now formally at the Court, awaiting state responses. Will U.S. Supremes soon rule for nationwide equality?”
Sister Dana also sez, “No, I’m not happy with most of the election results, but remember: if you didn’t vote, you can’t complain. I am so disappointed that only a third of the electorate showed up – and most of them were the wrong, uneducated, propagandized voters. So, welcome to the new plutocratic oligarchy – courtesy of heartless, greedy, unevolved Repugnicans everywhere! Ugh!”
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