By Sister Dana Van Iquity–
Sister Dana sez, “In a recent poll, Tr@mp’s Big Lie is gaining ground—40% of Americans now believe that the 2020 election was fraudulent and don’t believe Joe Biden won the Presidency. How can we still rightfully call ourselves the UNITED States?!”
ARTSAVESLIVES presents SIDEWALK SALON SUNDAY SLOW STREETS every other Sunday 11 am to 5 pm on Noe and Market—thanks to benefactor/curator/artist Thomasina DeMaio. On May 2, I had the awesome privilege of greeting our glorious San Francisco Emperor David Glamamore & Empress Juanita MORE! and her royal dog as well as Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Bevan Dufty, also lovely songstresses Connie Champagne and Kathleen Antonia. Thanx to vax, we all hugged safely in masks! The featured artists were Billy Douglas, Alexander Prestia, B. June Speaker, Alan Beckstead, Ed Terpening, Suzanne Cowan, Ben Iliili, Cynthia Louise, Matt Pipes, Meehaun Wade, Junara Greco, DeMaio, and Gordon Silveria. You should Google these talented folx and see their amazing works!
Sister Dana sez, “If the CDC recommends a third Moderna booster shot, then I heartily say, ‘Just shoot me!’”
We joined EQUALITY CALIFORNIA for EVENING FOR EQUALITY on May 4th (sorry, but I cannot help but continue the stupid Star Wars pun of “May the Fourth Be with You”—well, I said I was sorry) for an evening of online conversation and entertainment as they raised critical funds to support the organization’s work to ensure LGBTQ+ Californians have access to the resources they need to navigate the COVID-19 public health crisis and land on their feet. Rick Chavez Zbur is stepping down as executive directorand taking his place is Tony Hoang (proud son of immigrants, who has been with EQCA since 2009). Hoang hopes the LGBTQ community can be a beacon for AAPI and LGBTQ civil rights. The lineup of special guests and performances for the virtual event included U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (out and proud but scarily in a Republican district), and amazing activist and drag star Honey Mahogany addressing homelessness and transphobia. Standout live singing performances were by Peppermint, Estelle, Justin Tranter, and Jake Wesley Rogers. The guest host was Ryan Mitchell.
Sister Dana sez, “Why does Fox News conspiracy theorist F**ker Carlson ask so so many questions that have already been answered over and over again?!”
NCLR presented CHAMPIONS FOR JUSTICE on May 1l, celebrating 44 years of fighting for equality, access, and equity for all—and raising nearly $400,000. There were so many highlights, from the inspiring remarks of Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon to hearing from some of our favorite represented officials like State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta and State Senator Sarah McBride, and many more. You can view the evening on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/c52d59zt
Did you ever listen to a song written by one of the greats and hear a phrase that made you say, “Did I just hear what I think I heard?” In this fun and tuneful show virtually presented by THEATRE RHINO, GAY AS THEY SAY, Mark Nadler explores the theory that Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Larry Hart, and Billy Strayhorn meant what you think they meant when they wrote provocative, gay-sounding phrases in their lyrics. This world premiere performance created for Theatre Rhinoceros runs May 21, 22 at 8 pm and May 23 at 3 pm. https://tinyurl.com/ju5wvn6m
In conjunction with TMIM Emperor Mr. David Glamamore and Empress Juanita MORE!, TRUE COLORS was a May 15 online fundraiser celebrating performers of color, and benefiting THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT. It was hosted by Ms. Golden Gate Bernadette Bohan and Mr. Golden Gate Ashlé Blow. There were sterling performances by Mr. Gay San Francisco Sage Sanchez Munro, Miss Gay Linda Summers, Absolute Empress 52 Mercedez Munro, Mx. Cowhand Foxxy Blue Snacks, The One and Only Rexy, Kippy Marks, Ehra Amaya, Mercury Van Sciver, Afrika America, Sister Koko D’Amore, and Bebe Sweetbriar.
Check out the leatheriffic mural on the side of MOBY DICK bar, GEAR UP!, by proud gay artist Serge Gay Jr. of a multi-pin and patch adorned black leather jacket, red bandana band, cap, Converse kicks, and red high heel. I have reviewed this talented artist many times when he has exhibited in the Castro at Strut, Art Attack, and other venues. BTW Moby Dick hopes to open inside again very soon.
Mayor Breed has announced that the city is planning a new public art installation to honor Black lives and the history of African Americans. The installation is planned to be located in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse next month, in time for Juneteenth. The installation, MONUMENTAL RECKONING, by Bay Area sculptor Dana King (former KPIX news anchor), honors the first Africans stolen from their homeland and sold into chattel slavery in the New World. The installation consists of 350 sculptures representing the number of Africans initially forced onto the slave ship San Juan Bautista for a journey of death and suffering across the Atlantic. A handful of these original 350 ancestors became America’s first enslaved people.
“Have we already forgotten that 147 Republicans attempted to overthrow a free and fair election just four months ago?” reminds Democratic strategist James Carville. Yes, we need to make Republicans OWN what they did, and we need to remind EVERY voter they betrayed our democracy!
Randy Rainbow, political song parodist to perfection, is at it again with his lively jab at idiotic insurrectionist Josh Hawley and his traitorous gang to the tune of “Clang Clang Clang Went the Trolley.” https://tinyurl.com/m7n7n6jn
Actress Doris Bumpus stars, nay, is Billie Holiday in 42ND STREET MOON’S stellar production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL streaming online now through May 30. Set in 1959 in South Philadelphia, Billie Holiday takes the stage in a little nothing bar for one of her final performances before her untimely death. Get your drink on while enjoying some of her most famous songs like “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Strange Fruit,” and “God Bless the Child”—but also lesser known numbers such as “When a Woman Loves a Man” and “Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer.” Lady Day talks about the good old and the bad old days—from racism in the Artie Shaw Big Band (with pretty proper peepee revenge), to addiction to wrongful jail-time. You will discover just how she got her name. She loves to riff with her piano accompanist Jimmie Powers (Marcus McCauley, who will play a sweet set while Billie has a small breakdown and then returns feeling no pain). https://tinyurl.com/3999rur8
“Getting San Francisco moving forward requires us doing everything we can to get Muni back to full service,” said Mayor Breed. “As we reopen more businesses and activities, it’s essential that our transit service is able to accommodate more passengers and help people get around our city. MUNI subway service, the F-LINE, and more full routes are returning, and Muni is coming back even stronger with new improvements like Wi-Fi in the subway tunnels.” I don’t know about you, but this sister isbreathing a sigh of relief (difficultly) through my mask.
The new comedy series, KIBITZ WITHOUT YA TITS, features award-winning Joe Posa as Joan Rivers revealing the men behind the divas in an innovative virtual format. This episode’s special guests are Russ K aka Miss Richfield 1981 and Steven Brinberg aka Barbra Streisand. Find out “what becomes a Legend most” as Joan pulls back the curtain and interviews some of the most formidable drag performers out of drag! Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can basis with a portion of the proceeds benefiting GOD’S LOVE WE DELIVER. May 25, 5 pm; May 26, 7 pm. https://tinyurl.com/5267exkj
For over twenty years, OUR FAMILY COALITION has fostered community-building and resilience among LGBTQ+ parents and caregivers through a vibrant calendar of family support workshops, groups, classes, and events; provided education about family diversity and anti-bias work to educators and child-serving professionals, and collaborated alongside partner organizations in vigorous advocacy for social, political, and cultural change. Their work will continue until the full and expanding spectrum of LGBTQ+ families and children are free to fully thrive. On May 14, they held OFC’s 25th Anniversary (virtual) Night Out Goes ALL IN: Honoring Our Past, Embracing Our Future emceed by the amazing Bebe Sweetbriar.
June 5 marks 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported by the federal government. It is also HIV LONG-TERM SURVIVORS AWARENESS DAY. On this important date in the long fight against HIV/AIDS, the NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL—the nation’s federally-designated memorial to AIDS—will honor and remember the more than 700,000 lives lost to AIDS during the past four decades. Forty blocks of the Quilt will be on display, symbolic of four decades of activism, hope, resilience, and remembrance. It will be the largest display of the Quilt in nearly two years. June 6, from noon to 6 pm, the Grove will be open to the public to see the Quilt. https://www.aidsmemorial.org/
Sister Dana sez, “Liz Cheney is no hero, but at least she stood up to the House Repugnican insurrectionists who continue Tr*mp’s Big Lie over the ‘stolen election,’ and then got ousted from leadership for truth telling.”
Published on May 20, 2021
