People who have been "sainted" by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for their good works and community service over the years will band together to help the San Francisco chapter of drag nuns with a fundraiser Sunday, March 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Edge bar, 4149 18th Street in the Castro LGBTQ neighborhood.
Billed as "The Saints Come Marching In," the benefit is intended to help the Sisters, a nonprofit organization that last year reported they were victims of embezzlement, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported.
The Sisters reported that one of their own members allegedly took "a significant sum" of money for "improper personal purposes." According to the Sisters at the time the alleged theft was made public last August, a request for restitution from the individual went unanswered.
The amount of money allegedly stolen was not disclosed.
The Sisters also had a deficit of $39,360 in 2020, according to ProPublica.
Despite the reported theft, the Sisters were able to make grants to other nonprofit organizations as they usually do, but, as organizers of the upcoming fundraiser noted, "now they are gearing up to produce their biggest event of the year, their world-famous Easter celebration in the park. And they need help to do it."
A news release stated that the event will be emceed by Mark Paladini, with Jimmy Strano as DJ. "Come on down for a beer and soda bust, Jell-O shots, performers, raffle, and more. But most important of all: come and show the Sisters some love."
The Sisters' Easter party is scheduled to take place Sunday, April 9, at Mission Dolores Park.
SF police chief, DA to appear at D8 town hall
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, police Chief William Scott, and other officials will appear at a District 8 public safety town hall Friday, March 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Upper Noe Recreation Center auditorium, 295 Day Street.
Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman will moderate the panel, which is also expected to include Dave Burke, the district's public safety liaison, and Kyra Worthy, executive director of San Francisco Safety Awareness for Everyone, or SF SAFE.
In an email to constituents, Mandelman said that he would ask the city officials residents' questions about public safety and street conditions in their neighborhoods and citywide.
The town hall will also be available virtually on Facebook Live.
To register to attend in person, click here.
Coalition to honor Bayard Rustin
The Bayard Rustin Coalition will honor its namesake Saturday, March 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Grubstake Diner, 1525 Pine Street, in San Francisco.
Rustin, a gay Black man and civil rights activist, worked closely with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Among other activities, he was one of the key organizers of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He died in 1987 at the age of 75. The Bayard Rustin Coalition is holding the gathering to mark the 111th anniversary of Rustin's birth, which is March 17, and to celebrate his life and legacy.
In 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom granted a posthumous pardon to Rustin, whose 1953 arrest in Pasadena, California on vagrancy charges led to jail time and inclusion on the sex offender registry, as the B.A.R. previously reported. According to the letter to Newsom from gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and then-Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) that advocated for the pardon, on January 21, 1953, Rustin was visiting Pasadena as part of a lecture tour on the topics of anti-colonial struggles in West Africa. Shortly after his speech, Rustin was arrested after being discovered having sex with two men in a parked car. Rustin was cited for vagrancy, which Wiener and Weber pointed out was "a common charge against gay men for engaging in consensual sexual behavior." (Weber is now California's secretary of state.)
For the upcoming gathering, coalition members stated in an email announcement that refreshments will be available, and there will be a champagne toast as well as a commemorative birthday cake.
In addition to the coalition, Grubstake is a co-sponsor, along with the Soul of Pride group.
For more information, email [email protected].
SamTrans public board seat application available
San Mateo County residents who live outside of the county's coastal region can apply for one public member seat on the San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors. The board sets policy for the district, which is responsible for the countywide SamTrans bus and paratransit systems.
According to a news release, applicants must also not have held public office for at least a year. The appointment is for a four-year term.
The SamTrans board consists of nine members: three appointed by the Board of Supervisors; three appointed by the City Selection Committee, who are councilmembers representing the northern, central, and southern portions of the county; and three public members, one of whom is a coastside resident, the release stated. Regular meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m.
The deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, March 30, at 5 p.m. For the application and more information, click here.
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