Sister Dana Van Iquity worries if April showers bring Mayflowers, however will we deal with all those Puritan immigrants landing in town?

We Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence really got our religiosity on this Easter, starting with handing out palm fronds in the Castro on Palm Sunday with Night Ministry, then at the Sing-Along Jesus Christ Superstar fundraiser for the Trans March, and finally celebrating our 33rd anniversary in Dolores Park, including the sainting of longtime photographer Daniel Nicoletta and veteran activist Kelly Rivera Hart. The live entertainment was fierce. Over 20,000 people attended as a wonderful, colorful crowd with so many people in costumes or wearing amazing Easter bonnets. The Easter Bonnet Contest produced a winner in a three-tiered Japanese pagoda hat. And the winner of the Hunky Jesus Contest had crafted an electric guitar made out of a giant cross, plugged in his portable amp and rocked the crowd!

MARVELOUS DISCOURSE stars one of the founders of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Hystectoria (Agnes), in David Finklestein’s visually stimulating, utterly satiating film at ATA on Valencia. Agnes plays the psychic to Finklestein’s bizarre poetic character in an electronically enhanced, colorized, improvisational, way witty wordplay skewering using BBQ pun metaphor. We joined fellow Sister Loganberry Frost and Sister Cass at this special film screening, including Epistolary Fusillades as a part of a shared evening by master filmmaker Mike Kuchar.

Reception at Sister Selma Soul’s with author/actor Finklestein was a special treat.

CORPUS CHRISTI and the “I AM Love” sneak preview tour in SF is April 28-30. Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi is a retelling of the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas. The show originally opened at the Manhattan Theatre Club in NYC, 1998, to intense protest and bomb threats. Deemed by religious zealots as “blasphemous,” the shock and controversy it created before it opened easily overshadowed McNally’s original intention in creating the piece: inclusive love for all. What better place to launch the “I AM Love” campaign than in the “City of Love” itself: EssEff! Information at Brandon@108productions.org. Saturday, April 28, performance of the play, Corpus Christi, 7pm, Southside Theatre @ Fort Mason Center. Sunday, April 29, screening of the film, Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption, 2pm, Castro Theatre. A VIP ticket includes a Pre-Show Gathering at 1pm with the cast/crew, a “blessing” with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Rev. Dr. Cindi Love of Soulforce, and many more surprise guests. Sunday, April 29, performance of the play, 7:30pm, First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco small chapel. Monday, April 30, play at 7pm, First Unitarian Universalist Society. The “I AM Love” campaign’s mission is to change the story on religious bullying and homophobia, in all ages and walks of Life, by first learning to Love the Self. Through a screening of the film, combined with performances of the play in select cities, their company will also conduct educational and arts-based workshops alongside gay/religious leaders in less tolerant communities around the country. Fabulous!

MARK LENO needs to be reelected. So come to the “Spring Cabaret for Mark Leno” on Friday April 20, 7 - 9pm at Trigger, 2344 Market Street. Join Mayor Ed Lee along with District Attorney George Cascon, City Treasurer Jose Cisneros and Supervisor Scott Wiener for an exciting event benefiting Leno’s reelection to the California State Senate! Mark continues to do great things for our community and state since the time he was District 8 supervisor through now as a California senator. Come show your support and give your thanks for all he has done! Featuring performances by Donna Sachet, Kippy Marks, Gypsy Love and Connie Champagne. Yummy bites, open beer, wine and champagne bar.

Contributions from $100 - $3,900 will be accepted at the door. Contribute $250 and receive a luxury gift bag with goodies, such as gift certificates to Lime and Trigger, and discounts to other shops and retailers. Contribute $750 or more and receive a package for a fun night out on the town including dinner, entertainment and a limo ride. You can RSVP by sending an email to flavorsyoucrave@aol.com with names of guests. If possible, please include your contribution amount. If you cannot attend and would still like to contribute, you may also make a donation of any amount at secure.actblue.com/page/lenospringcabaret. I’ll see you there! 

DANCES FROM THE HEART is Richmond-Ermet AIDS Foundation’s newest benefit show and will feature dancers from 10 top Bay Area dance companies in an exciting evening of dance performances including ballet, modern, ballroom, tango and hula. Dancers are from Ballet San Jose, Smuin Ballet, Company C Contemporary Ballet, Diablo Ballet, ODC dance, Post Ballet, Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, Christy Coté Argentine Tango, Na Lei Hulu and White Tree Fine Art (finalist group in Paula Abdul’s Live to Dance in 2011). All will be presenting dances to help raise funds to support Bay Area AIDS services. Don’t miss this first-time ever, collaborative dance event at Fort Mason Center’s Cowell Theater, located in the Herbst Pavillion, on Monday, April 30, 7:30pm. Come early to meet special guest and honorary co-chair, film (Lil’ Abner, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) and TV (Catwoman) star Julie Newmar. Tickets can be ordered by phone by calling 415-273-1620 or online at helpisontheway.org.

Sister Dana was really bummed out on Income Tax Day, reminded he is still a second-class citizen. Feh!