By Sister Dana Van Iquity
Sister Dana sez, “Valentine’s Day is cumming, and my candy box is empty. Such an odd day – supposedly honoring a priest in Rome who was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry, was later beheaded, and finally martyred about AD 496. But all I know for sure is that Congressional Repugnicans do not celebrate Valentine’s Day – as they were obviously born without hearts.”
I know one more thing: I <heart> Pink! Are you a PINK fanatic like me? Did you miss her reeedonkulust tour in Melbourne? Well, wipe yer tears, Pinkfan, because she has released her new DVD, PINK: THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE TOUR on RCA. Awesome! Just fast forward through the creepy clown opening and get to her unbelievable trapeze entrance! Later, during her “Try” number, she works the ropes high above the audience. Amazeballs! Even better than her recent Grammy performance in the air! This would make a great Valentine’s gift for someone special. thetruthaboutlovetour.com
And speaking of the Grammys, how powerful was the beautiful ceremony of 33 (mostly) same-sex couples exchanging wedding rings as Macklemore, Lewis, Madonna (in appropriately white tuxedo), Queen Latifah, and Mary Lambert took the stage to rap and sing the praises of queer love with “Same Love” and “Open Your Heart.” Now that was the greatest Valentine ever! Macklemore & Ryan Lewis also took home four Grammys, including awards for best new artist and best rap album. XLNT!
SHANTI PROJECT and Nordstrom San Francisco Centre (strong supporters of Shanti) invited friends of Shanti to meet Lee Rhodes, creator of GLASSYBABY, at a cocktail party benefitting Shanti Project. Battling cancer for the third time with three young kids, Rhodes found peace when she dropped tea lights into hand-blown candleholders. She hired artists to make more, and gave them as gifts. Creating each piece involves eight hands, 2,000 degrees of focused heat, and a multi-layered glassblowing process that results in a glassybaby of every hue, “because kindness comes in all colors, and no two hues glow quite alike,” according to Rhodes.
Shanti exists to enhance the health, quality of life, and wellbeing of people living with life-threatening illnesses. Each year, Shanti serves over 2,000 women and men with HIV/AIDS or breast cancer, many of whom are low-income and medically underserved. Shanti provides culturally and linguistically competent Care Navigation, basic in-home assistance including practical and emotional support through trained staff and long-term volunteer care-givers, as well as health education, wellness, and survivorship classes and events. For many of their clients, Shanti is their sole care advocate during this extreme time of need.
Glassybaby lovers have been all about giving and giving back. In this spirit, 10% of their revenue goes directly to organizations that support people in all kinds of need. Last year, Glassybaby reached its one-millionth dollar mark in charitable giving since its inception in 2001. Currently, purchasing any in the Hudson series in the store at 3665 Sacramento Street benefits Shanti. glassybaby.com.
CUMMING UP!
LESBIAN/GAY CHORUS OF SF invites you to the 11TH ANNUAL LOVE BITES ANTI-VALENTINE’S CABARET at Martuni’s Piano Bar for an intimate show featuring solo and small group performances full of bitterness, heartbreak, and laughter. Pieces range from a condensed version of Camelot by Artistic Director William Sauerland to a number by the Chiffons. So come, drink away your sorrows with a bevy of beverages and entertainment provided by LGCSF, Sunday, February 9th at 4 pm, Monday, February 10th at 7:30 pm, 4 Valencia Street. Tix at the door, only $10.
You will be disturbed by the “HORRORS OF LOVE” HAUNTED HOUSE, this Valentine’s Day weekend, from the creators of the Zombie Christ haunted house and Faetopia, Friday, February 14th and Saturday, February 15th, 8–11pm, Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission Street. Artists have created a labyrinth filled with interactive performance and visual arts tableaus that will awe and appall, exploring the sinister and sometimes sadistic sides of love, in the typically hilarious flair of the radical faeries and queerdos of the Bay. $10-20, No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds (NOTAFLOF), with funds raised supporting the CENTER FOR SEX AND CULTURE and CALAMUS, a radical faerie fellowship. sexandculture.org.
This Valentine’s Day Eve, BOOKS INC. in the Castro pairs with CLEIS PRESS for a night of SWOONINGLY ROMANTIC STORIES OF GAY LOVE. Reading together for the first time is the venerated Felice Picano, critically acclaimed Lewis DeSimone, and saucily prolific Rob Rosen. This evening of spice and sensuality coincides with the releases of the award-winning series Best Gay Romance 2014, Best Gay Erotica 2014, and Foolish Hearts. Get ready for an unforgettable and unique Valentine’s Eve party. Sparkling libations to be served. Thursday, February 13th, 7:30pm, Books Inc., 2275 Market Street. (415) 864-6777.
The RALLY IN SOLIDARITY WITH RUSSIAN LGBTQ PEOPLE (see related story on page 1) and for defense of human rights at home and abroad regarding Sochi Olympics and homophobia is Saturday, February 8th, 11am-1pm, United Nations Plaza, 7th and Market Streets. Support other solidarity activities on Friday, February 7th: 12-1pm, picket the Russian Consulate, 2790 Green Street at Baker; 5pm sign waving at Harvey Milk Plaza; 5:30-8:30pm join Team SF at Pride House Int’l/Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, HiTops sports bar, 2247 Market, between 16th and Sanchez Streets. Initiated by BAY AREA FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY and the FEDERATION OF GAY GAMES-TEAM SF. Info at (415) 730-2917 or email maketheworldbettersf@gmail.com.
At the SAN FRANCISCO EQUALITY AWARDS KICKOFF COCKTAIL PARTY, Executive Director John O’Connor will be talking about his exciting new plans for EQCA in 2014 at Jones, 620 Jones Street, Tuesday, February 11th, 6-8 p.m. eqca.org, 620-Jones.com.
VOTING FOR IMPERIAL EMPEROR AND EMPRESS is February 15th from noon to 6 pm in the MUNI Castro Station and other locations. Candidates for the 2014 Office of Emperor are “JP” Soto and Ray Tilton. Candidates for the 2014 Office of Empress are Misty Blue and Danielle Logan. SAN FRANCISCO IMPERIAL CORONATION 49 theme is “A Killer View – An Evening of International Mystery Bond Style” and is being held at San Francisco Galleria Design Center, Saturday, February 22, doors at 5pm. ImperialCouncilsf.org.
For twenty-two years, Presidents Day Weekend has been BEAR WEEKEND in San Francisco, starting in 1992 with the first Bear Expo. Seventeen International Bear Rendezvous weeks followed; but sadly, 2011 was the last IBR. In its absence, and with the understanding that the essence of any bear event is, of course, the people, SF Bear Weekend – a grassroots, web 2.0, social media driven event – was born. SF Bear Weekend 2012 and 2013 were huge successes, and the hirsute community looks forward to seeing old friends and some new ones at SF Bear Weekend 2014, February 14th-17th! sfbearweekend.com.
GAY VANITY FAIR is a Stylish Gay & Lesbian Wedding Event & Fashion Show offering same-sex couples a unique wedding perspective at The Bently Reserve, 301 Battery at Sacramento Street. Touch the gowns, taste the wedding cakes, smell the flowers, try the makeup, and taste creative food and drinks. Tix $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Sunday, Feb. 9th, 11 am- 4pm. tinyurl.com/mlppwlz.
Pornucopia: My current flick pick is Caught in the Act, a Joe Gage Chronicle from titanmen.com.
Sister Dana sez, “Stay safe in Sochi, dear queers, and Happy V.D. to all my readers! No, that’s not Venereal Disease, silly; it’s Valentine’s Day!”
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