By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “I want to wish everyone an early Happy St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)! Be sure to wear green! Oh, and by the way: Kiss Me, I’m Irish!”
IMPERIAL CORONATION 55 was “Disco in the Jungle” at Park Central Hotel on February 22. Congratulations to our new Emperor William Bulkley & Empress Mimi Osa! Also, congratulations to Emperor 47 of San Francisco Terrill Grimes Munro and Absolute Empress 54 de San Francisco Baby Shaques Munro on a fabulous year and step-down weekend! I am excited to see what the future will be with Emperor William and Empress Mimi at the helm. Full speed ahead!
Right after Coronation, I had the distinguished pleasure of sharing a table with Imperial Queen Mother Empress XVI Pushy Phyllis who was in town from Palm Springs at Club 440 at the 60TH BIRTHDAY PARTY for Gary Virginia, LET THEM EAT CAKE! It was a fine affair with so many good friends from so many different social circles and not one but two chocolate cakes. Sixty looks damn good on you, Gary!
February 26 was ASH WEDNESDAY, so while I got my ash on at Grace Cathedral, The Rev. Diana Wheeler and several Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and others gathered on the corner of 18th & Castro offering “ashes on the go,” where participants could choose between ashes, cocoa powder, and/or glitter on the forehead.
Sister Dana sez, “So Russia has a pretend Parliament, as does China and North Korea; but why doesn’t America have a real Senate? Ours doesn’t even try to be real. The Repugnicans are too busy smooching Trump butt to promote justice or pass any bills at all!”
EQCA (Equality California) invited its supporters to join special guest Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and lovely host Donna Sachet for a delightful cocktail reception on February 27 at Jolene’s kicking off the 2020 SAN FRANCISCO EQUALITY AWARDS. Music was by DJ Live. We mixed and mingled with EQCA Board and Host Committee members and special guests such as the Honorable Leslie Katz to learn about ways to support the Equality Awards this May. The SF Awards will take place on May 11, 5:30 pm; cocktails, dinner, and awards at 7 pm with after-party, The Fairmont, 950 Mason. “The Equality Awards help fuel Equality California’s first-in-the-nation work to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people,” said Rick Zbur, Executive Director. Tickets at www.eqca.org
Sister Dana sez, “We should be especially worried that Veep Pence is in charge of all info regarding the coronavirus, since fellow Hoosier Mayor Pete has noted that an unusually high number of HIV cases in Scott County, Indiana, was first spotted by health authorities in November 2014. Pence did not declare a public health emergency and authorize a needle exchange program for the county until March 26, 2015.”
Meanwhile, Senator Scott Wiener has stated, “I urge my constituents to take the necessary precautions, while also remaining calm. Recent reports of xenophobia towards the API community—in light of COVID-19’s spread—are deeply disturbing. The state of emergency is not a reason to avoid Chinatown or Chinese businesses. I will continue working with my colleagues in local and state government to prepare our community and protect California’s public health.” For SF alerts, text COVID19SF to 888-777.
With the growing number of vacancies in the Castro District, we needed to take active steps to sustain the City’s living queer heritage and culture. For this reason, LGBTQ leaders, neighborhood organizations, historians, activists, and community members assembled at Harvey Milk Plaza on Saturday Leap Day afternoon, February 29, for CASTRO DISTRICT – A MARCH TO REMEMBER & REIGNITE HOPE, hosted by Juanita MORE!. People marched through the Castro, laying wreaths at the sites of shuttered queer spaces in the historic LGBTQ district. Demonstrators called upon elected officials, foundations, philanthropists, and venture capitalists, as well as us residents and lovers of The Castro, to both commemorate the City’s LGBTQ vibrant past and inspire a brighter future. The grand march concluded at the Lookout.
The very popular monthly CASTRO ART WALK continued on Thursday evening, March 5, with receptions everywhere. But you can still see the exhibits all month at 14 venues with this map: https://www.castroartwalk.com/
“QUEERIES” art reception celebrated the work of Joseph Abbati at STRUT on March 6. Abbati’s inquiry on the masculine figure and forms of expression from a queer point of view are on display all month at 470 Castro Street. The witty double entendres reveal masculine forms depicting queer identity, kinks, humor, and beauty.
Sister Dana sez, “Our openly gay proud Mayor Pete dropped from the Prez run to say: ‘We need leadership to heal a divided nation, not drive us further apart,’ and added, ‘We need a broad based agenda to truly deliver for the American people, not one that gets lost in ideology. We need an approach strong enough not only to win the White House, but hold the House, win the Senate, and send Mitch McConnell into retirement.’ Yes, Pete, YES!”
The 40th Annual BALIF (Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom) Gala, OVER THE RAINBOW, was held at Bently Reserve on March 6. DJ entertainment was Juanita MORE!, who blazed the stage with her thematic “Over the Rainbow.” Welcome and Introduction of Board of Directors was by Amanda Hamilton & Mark Fickes, Gala Co-Chairs. Guest speakers were Senator Scott Wiener and Aria Sa’id, a Bay Area-based transgender advocate and award-winning political strategist. Giving the keynote address, she had us all confidently repeat, “I believe … WE WILL WIN!” She is a founder and Executive Director of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District. The Community Service Award was given to Openhouse by Senator Wiener, and was accepted by Karyn Skultety, PhD, Openhouse Executive Director. The Legal Service Award was awarded to Oasis Legal Services by Prerna Lal, BALIF Board Member, immigration attorney and advocate, and was accepted by Caroline Kornfield Roberts, Executive Director. Presentation of the First Annual Trailblazers Award was bestowed to BALIF Founders, and was preceded by a poignant video of BALIF’s history and future. The First Annual Julius Turman Award was presented to UC Davis law student Rachel Schiff. Closing remarks were by BALIF Co-Chair Jeff Kosbie.
On March 7 at The Café in the Castro, Krewe de Kinque King XVI Aja Monet-Ashton & Queen XVI Kelly Rose stepped down spectacularly and hosted KREWE DE KINQUE‘s (KDK) fabulous fundraising Mardi Gras BAL MASQUE XVII – “Diners, Divas & Dives!” This was a nod to the historic 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot and our beneficiary, COMPTON’S TRANSGENDER CULTURAL DISTRICT. We were welcomed by KDK Founder and Ball Captain KDK King I Gary Virginia. Grand Marshal and performing at the masked ball was Renée Lubin, the beloved local actor who performed for 33 years in the longest-running musical in the world, Beach Blanket Babylon. She led our glorious Second Line Parade. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman bestowed Certificates of Honor to both stepping-down royals and Lubin. There was incredible live entertainment by dozens of brilliant KDK royalty and members. Then we crowned our newest KDK King XVII Omar and KDK Queen XVII Diana. We truly “let the good times roll,” as they say in N’Awlins.
DESTROY ART INC. AND ART ATTACK SF is presenting WELCOME TO 1984 2020: Punk on the Western Front, a multi-format, multi-generational group art show featuring dedicated visual and musical veterans of the punk rock music scene. There was a lovely reception on Leap Night, February 29. The show will be on view at 2358 Market Street Suite #1, now to March 29. https://www.artattacksf.com/
Sister Dana sez, “I and my bearded buddies are feeling quite discriminated against by the CDC with its recommended facial hair styles while wearing respirators. No! I will NOT shave off my beard!”
Peaches Christ, Jinkx Monsoon, and BenDeLaCreme perform the hilarious DRAG BECOMES HER, a drag parody of the ghoulishly entertaining campy movie Death Becomes Her at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. Recall undead Beverly Hills rivals Madeleine Ashton and Helen Sharp, originally made famous by Oscar-winning leading ladies Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep. March 14, 4 pm and 8 pm. http://store.peacheschrist.com/products/213-drag-becomes-her.aspx
Thirty-five years ago, a band of queer history enthusiasts founded the GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY to uncover, document, and preserve the stories of the LGBTQ past. The institution’s holdings have since grown into one of the world’s largest collections of LGBTQ-related historical materials. Mark this milestone and celebrate 35 years of preserving and sharing queer history. Proceeds from the now sold out ANNIVERSARY PARTY will support ongoing efforts to establish the nation’s first full-scale LGBTQ museum and research center. March 19, 6–8 pm, at the Museum at 4127 18th Street.
EUREKA VALLEY COMMUNITY ART SHOW closing party, hosted by artist Thomasina DeMaio, will be on March 20, 6 pm, 100 Collingwood, with art on walls and onscreen.
In association with the SF AIDS Foundation STRUT and CASTRO COMMUNITY ON PATROL, you are invited to pre-register for their very popular Beginners Community Self-Defense Class on March 24 at STRUT, 470 Castro Street. https://bit.ly/3ayTrNE
Sister Dana sez, “Right after Tom Steyer dropped out of the Prez race he said, ‘When the Lord closes a door, He opens a window. I will find that window, and I will crawl through it with you.’ Amen, brother!”
Published on March 12, 2020
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