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Circus Bella Winter Holiday Spectacular

Circus Bella returns with “Kaleidoscope” San Francisco's newest holiday tradition performed in the round under a colorful big top tent for a limited engagement now through January 5th 2025. A diverse cast of 11 perform thrilling feats of balance & strength, demonstrations of grace & poise, outrageous humor & slapstick antics all taking place in the intimacy & immediacy of a 350 seat one-ring circus located at the intersection of Beale & Howard Streets at the Crossing at the East Cut, San Francisco’s newest gathering spot. Abigail Munn, Circus Bella co-founder & Director stated, “Now, more than ever, we all need opportunities to laugh with our neighbors. We’re thrilled to be back with our gorgeous tent at the East Cut, in the city I call home & be a part of activating downtown with arts & entertainment.” Kaleidoscope features guest stars Garret Allen (San Diego) & Esther De Monteflores (San Francisco) who represent some of the best & brightest circus talent in the country. Original music is performed live by the 6-piece Circus Bella All-Star Band led by master composer Rob Reich & costumes by Autumn Adamme. Let yourself be dazzled & join in the celebration of the perfect show for families & children of all ages looking for a joyous holiday event that will stay with you all season long & beyond. Kaleidoscope runs 90 minutes plus a 15-minute intermission in their intimate heated big top tent. General Admission Seating in 2 sections: Premium (1st two rows, assigned seating) & General Admission. (Tix: $55 - $75). 

National Historic Landmarks Diversity

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has announced the designations of 19 new National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) reflecting the importance of the sites in sharing our country’s diverse history. The new NHLs are nationally significant properties for LGBTQ Americans, African Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders & women’s history in addition to important moments in the development of American technology, landscape design & art. Secretary Haaland stated, “As America’s storyteller, it is our privilege at the Department at the Interior, through the National Park Service, to tell our nation’s history & honor the many historical chapters & heroic communities that brought us to where we all today. These newly designated historic landmarks join a list of the nation’s premier historic & cultural places, all of which were nominated through voluntary & locally led stewardship.” One of the LGBTQ designations is the Boulder Colorado County Courthouse where the first same gender marriage licenses were issued in 1975 by County Clerk Clela Rorex. Mardi Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Equality added, “I wish I could pick up the phone & call Clela right now. When I heard the news, my heart took an extra beat, caused by happiness & pride. This announcement couldn’t be more timely as we approach the 50th anniversary of when she issued these marriage licenses.” Chuck Sams National Park Service Director concluded, “The National Park Service is committed to helping preserve & share a fuller & more inclusive account of our nation's history, a history that is not complete until all stories are represented. These 19 newly designated landmarks help do just that. We are proud to recognize these nationally significant places representing the diversity of the American experience & our country’s collective heritage.” 

A Woman’s Song For Peace 7 City Tour

Dance Brigade is sponsoring this 7-city tour to make an indelible mark on the upcoming inauguration. A Woman’s Song for Peace is a new dance theater work featuring original, live music by iconic musician & activist Holly Near, seminal queer feminist singer-songwriter Ferron & groundbreaking Afro-Caribbean jazz artist Christelle Durandy intertwined with Dance Brigade’s fierce nuanced choreography & signature melding of styles with Hip Hop, Modern, Salsa & Taiko utilizing these storytelling components to convey a larger narrative about social justice & liberation. This is a cry for peace to end all wars so that peace & justice can prevail not only in the Middle East but also in Sudan, Ukraine & at our borders & inner cities of the United States. The highlight of Dance Brigade’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Season will be the creation, performance & touring of “A Woman’s Song for Peace A Tribute to the Past, A Vision for the Future”. The tour will begin on January 9th in Eugene, Oregon with a performance at the Soreng Theater & a fundraiser at the WOW Hall the original home of this ground-breaking company. The tour will progress in Oregon to Portland & Medford (Ashland) then return to California in Ukiah, Santa Rosa, Aptos (Santa Cruz) & conclude in San Francisco at the Herbst Theater on January 19th with guest musician Woody Simmons. Dance Brigade members include Lena Gatchalian, Bianca S. Mendoza-Prado, Deb’e Taylor, dominique hargrove, Frances Sedayao, Fredrika Keefer, Johanna Gormley, Kimberly B Valmore, KJ Dahlaw, Megan Lowe, Sarah Bush, Sierra Tiatia & Vivian Dai. 

Judy Garland XMAS Show Reinvented

Peter Mac the award-winning tribute artist is celebrating the 61st anniversary of Judy Garland's legendary 1963 CBS Christmas Special by starring in a fabulous homage to the iconic show on Saturday December 21st & 28th at Jacqui’s Supper Club Amazing Pizza & More on Pickering Wharf in Salem, MA. This season marks not only the historic anniversary of Garland's television special but also Peter Mac's 22nd year of performing as the legendary entertainer. Peter distinguished for his deeply emotive & respectful portrayal of Judy Garland brings to the stage a performance that goes way beyond impersonation. His dedication to capturing the essence of Garland's spirit & complexity has been recognized & celebrated with numerous accolades including the prestigious Golden Halo Award presented to him by Mickey Rooney in a gala celebration in in 2012. Significantly Mac's portrayal of Garland has received heartfelt endorsement including Margaret O'Brien presenting him onstage in Los Angeles with a letter from Garland’s children Liza Minnelli & Joey Luft wishing him a terrific run. This bond was further enriched by a memorable dinner shared by Mac & his husband Dr. John Mac with Joey Luft & Margaret O'Brien before their relocation back to the east coast. In this special production Dr. John Mac portrays the incomparable Bea Arthur adding to the show’s allure. Additionally the audience can anticipate surprise guest appearances all played by Peter throughout the run. This is not a lip syn performance as Mac sing all the songs live. We have our tickets for Dec 21st & looking forward to catching this critically-acclaimed show. Doors open at 6:30P for the 8P - 9:30P concert. 

Supreme Court Declines Anti Trans Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined a case backed by conservative groups that aimed to dismantle trans-inclusive school policies at Eau Claire Area School District in Wisconsin. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers GLSEN Executive Director stated, “Today, the Supreme Court rejected the baseless challenge against Eau Claire Area School District’s trans-inclusive policies. We saw the Supreme Court do its job & acknowledge what the law & the facts have always made clear: trans-inclusive policies are not only lawful but essential for creating safe, affirming schools where all students can thrive. Eau Claire’s policy is a model for inclusive education that affirms students’ rights to be themselves, belong in their communities & feel safe in their schools. These are not radical ideas—they are foundational to creating equitable & effective learning environments. We cannot ignore the dissenting voices that continue to push harmful rhetoric about so-called ‘parents’ rights’ as a pretext to attack LGBTQ+ youth. These efforts are part of a broader, dangerous agenda that prioritizes fear & division over the well-being of our youth. GLSEN will remain steadfast in defending policies like Eau Claire’s & advocating for the rights of LGBTQ+ students nationwide. As the fight for inclusive education continues, we stand with educators, families & students committed to ensuring that every young person succeeds in schools that respect their identities.” GLSEN is the nation’s largest advocate for LGBTQ issues in K-12 education & has been dedicated to establishing inclusive schools & learning environments for over 34 years. Amidst increasing threats against LGBTQ youth nationwide GLSEN actively addresses harassment & discrimination by empowering educators, advocating for policy changes & combating book bans through its Rainbow Library Program which provides LGBTQ affirming literature to over 6 million students across 30 states. 

NDAA Provision Against Trans Families

At the 11th hour Congressional Republicans have attached a despicable provision to the NDAA spending bill banning coverage of best practice medical care for transgender military minor dependents. Cait Smith, director of LGBTQ Policy at the Center for American Progress stated, “As a trans veteran, I know how important the NDAA is for our military members & their families. That’s why it’s reprehensible that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is playing politics with our troops’ pay by trying to include language that would take medical decisions out of the hands of doctors & families & put it in the hands of politicians. It is unacceptable to see a ban on coverage of transgender medical care for military dependents tacked on to this crucial legislation. Families should never have to choose between serving their country & ensuring their kids are able to access the medical care they need. People should be trusted with their own medical decisions. Should the NDAA pass with this ban on care in place, it would mark the first federal anti-LGBTQ statute in nearly 20 years. Members of the House must oppose passage of the NDAA until this harmful amendment is removed.” Even though a letter with nearly 300 advocacy groups calling on members to oppose the NDAA discriminatory anti-trans provision the committee denied House Members an opportunity to vote specifically on this essential health care. So it’s now going to be a wait & see situation since President Biden has promised repeatedly to veto any legislation that would enshrine discrimination against transgender people into law.

Nikki Giovanni Poet & LGBTQ Icon Dies

We’ve lost another great with the passing of poet Nikki Giovanni. As a prominent figure of the Black Arts & Civil Rights Movements she became friends with Rosa Parks, Aretha Franklin, James Baldwin & Nina Simone as she inspired generations of students, artists, activists, musicians, scholars & our LGBTQ community both young & old. One of her infamous quotes is so timely right now as Giovanni stated, “If now isn’t a good time for the truth I don’t see when we’ll get to it.” She was the recipient of hundreds of awards & honors including a 2024 Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. Diane Anderson Minshall concluded, “I haven’t spoken with Nikki in nearly a decade but in the 1990s I was so inspired by her words around resilience & justice & life I was thrilled to meet her at a conference & later interview her. She once said (I paraphrase) ‘you aren’t dead until no one remembers you.’ I can say that it’ll take quite some time for the generations alive to forget her. RIP Nikki Giovanni.” Having battled cancer twice Giovanni refused to let a third bout interrupt her art. Just three weeks ago she performed with saxophonist Javon Jackson at the Louis Armstrong House in NYC. Her forthcoming book of poetry “The Last Book” will be published in fall 2025. Born Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 7, 1943 she served as a University Distinguished Professor in the English Department at Virginia Tech until 2022. She died peacefully with her wife Virginia (Ginney) Fowler by her side.

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Circus Bella Winter Holiday Spectacular

Circus Bella returns with “Kaleidoscope” San Francisco's newest holiday tradition performed in the round under a colorful big top tent f...

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