Sister Dana Van Iquity wishes a Happy Cinco de Mayo to all you hot tamales out there!

TRIBUTE TO OZ was at the Midnight Sun with Cookie Dough’s Monster Show, “A Visit to the Emerald City.” The night was absolutely wizard (literally) with songs from Wicked and The Wiz. Cookie appeared as Dorothy Gale in Oz - lip-synching OZzy Osborne’s Ozzfest of “Over the Mountain” in her blue gingham dress and red sequined slippers, joining cardboard characters of Scarecrow and Lion, when she ran into the “wicked” witch (a green Jill Felta-Fish) doing “No Good Deed,” “The Wizard and I,” and “Defying Gravity” (this last on top of the bar). Florence Frightengale, as a nun, lipped “No Bad News” from The Wiz and “Return to Oz” by the Scissor Sisters. Glitterella, a large and in charge bearded bear, did Wiz’s “You Can’t Win.” Megan Pixel did The Tamperer’s “Drop a House,” punching and kicking the witch to the ground. Jackie Cox was a green witch doing “The Red Shoe Blues” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and later reappeared as a mature Dorothy from Wiz singing live a heart-wrenching “Home.” This was also the Idina Menzel (Wicked’s original Elphaba) CD release party for Live: Barefoot at the Symphony. 

PEACHES & TOMMY are acid queens! Peaches Christ presented a tribute to Ken Russell (1927-2011) screening his 1975 rock opera Tommy movie and clips from several of his delightfully weird erotic flicks (i.e. Lair of the White Worm, The Devils, The Music Lovers) at Sundance Kabuki. On stage was a giant bust of Peaches and a huge pink glittered guitar. Monks (Citizen Midnight) wearing Marilyn Monroe masks took the stage, stripped off their capes, picked up their instruments and rocked the house as Trixxie Carr sang “Pinball Wizard.” Peaches noted the movie featured the most intense “sploshing” scene ever – with an avalanche of beans and soapsuds practically drowning Ann-Margret. Peaches’ next production, July 28, is “Silence of the Trans.” Can’t wait!

MARCONI CALINDAS is displaying “Colorful Expressions,” sponsored by McKinley Art Solutions, now through June 5th at Hotel Triton, 342 Grant Avenue. Black outlines and pure hues achieving a kind of stained glass effect - inspired by his time in Guam and Northern Mariana Islands - form Calindas’ distinctive style. His subject matter ranges from pop icons (Madonna, RuPaul, John Lennon) to triumphs of the human spirit (Supervisor Harvey Milk, the Pride Rainbow Flag to angels, sunflowers, a family pet, and the iPod). 

AIDS LEGAL REFERRAL PANEL (ALRP) held its 12th annual volunteer appreciation party at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman offices. ALRP’s mission is to help people with HIV/AIDS maintain or improve their health by resolving their legal issues, providing free and low-cost legal services to Bay Area clients. Founded in 1983, ALRP has handled over 60,000 legal matters for clients over the last 29 years, noted Executive Director Bill Hirsh. ALRP has grown to a full-time staff of eleven and a panel of over 700 volunteer attorneys donating over $1.5 million each year in pro bono legal services. Kudos!!!

Since 1974, SHANTI has enhanced the quality of life, health and wellbeing of people living with life-threatening illnesses, including breast cancer and HIV/AIDS. Shanti held “A Speakeasy Celebration” fundraiser at the Old Mint (the nostalgic “Granite Lady”) at Fifth Street & Mission to celebrate the courage of their clients, dedication of their staff and partners, and the accomplishments of the Shanti Breast Cancer Program in its eleventh year. Donna Sachet emceed. Dressing in “Roaring 20’s” garb was encouraged. Betty Fu sang songs of the era. A specialty cocktail reception paired good booze with decadent chocolate served in the various vaults. Two Shanti Breast Cancer Program Heroes were commended: Julie Baumgartner, former Shanti board member, and Diane Carr, RN, NP, director of Breast & Cervical Cancer Services for the SF Department of Public Health. Executive Director Kaushik Roy summed it all up for clients: “We can’t promise you’ll be okay, but we can promise you’ll never be alone.” 

CORPUS CHRISTI is not just a thought-provoking play by Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally, imagining Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Texas, but also an incredible documentary about the making of McNally’s controversial piece and the homophobes who protest it without having actually seen it. Mirroring the reflections of change in society today regarding freedom of speech, civil rights, marriage equality and separation of church and state, this passion play is a vehicle for a community struggling to find its voice. Meanwhile, the company of actors finds itself on a journey that would forever change their lives. They tour as the “I AM Love” Campaign, teaching audiences to love themselves for who they are. See corpuschristi-themovie.com. James Brandon (who plays Jesus) said, “As the voices of intolerance around the world continue preaching ignorance and hate, we will keep raising our voices from a place of love, and we will spread that love to places where love for LGBT people is lacking.” Rev. Cindi Love, executive director of Soulforce - engaging in nonviolent resistance to bring freedom to LGBTQ people suffering from religious oppression - gave a moving speech at the Castro Theatre. We Sisters presented a blessing of the kneeling cast, covering them with a massive veil and glittering them. The SF Gay Men’s Chorus sang numbers from Godspell. I then saw the play and was moved to tears.

ENDEAVOR FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS seeks to support the arts in the GLBTQ community through individual grants and scholarships. Sister Dinah Might and I got to help out their fundraiser at the Celtic Coffee Company in the Tenderloin. Their aim is to not only support artists and students of the queer community, but also educate the larger population about talented GLBTQs by bringing their artistic expressions to life, and helping provide them with a pathway to successful careers. Check out effta.org.

Sister Dana always enjoys a nice big May pole with ribbons streaming from it; and that’s not a sexual reference – or is it?!