This Week in Civics: Go Vote! Celebrate Queer History, Learn to Ride a Bike

Date:

A Conversation with Queeroes Muralists Juan Manuel Carmona & Simón Malvae

SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market St.
Friday, June 10, 5 – 7 p.m. | Free

Artists Juan Manuel Carmona and Simon Malvae completed Queeros mural at San Francisco’s LGBTQ center just in time for Pride month. The mural uses the colors of the Progress Pride Flag to represent a collection of global and local LGBTQ+ heroes who honor their Latinx heritage while also having a significant impact on shaping LGBTQ+ history—both past and present.

Courtesy of LGBT Center

Carmona told the Standard that it was an honor to paint a message of love and portray queer people. “It is also a responsibility because we are trying to tell a story about Queer History,” he said. “It starts conversations about why these people are important and what is exactly what we are celebrating this Pride month.”

The Queeros mural replaces the controversial Fnnch mural, which featured honey bears painted to represent the various flags of the queer community.  

The artists are now inviting San Franciscans to the center to talk about the new mural and its meaning. Some of Carmona’s favorite Queeros, including Frida Khalo and Juanita MORE!, are depicted in the mural. MORE! is a San Francisco-based drag queen and personal hero to Carmona. “ Through my time knowing her I have found housing, friends, work, inspiration but more than anything: community.”

-Meaghan Mitchell

Election Day, Again! Vote in California’s Primary Election

Various locations
Tuesday, June 7

Tomorrow is the last day for registered voters in California to vote in the primary election. Here’s what’s on the ballot for San Francisco (and if you don’t want to read, we’ve got you covered with Tik Tok explainers). These are the ways you can make sure your vote counts:

  • Mail – Your ballot comes with prepaid postage, so you can send it back that way as long as it’s postmarked on or before June 7, 2022, and received by June 14, 2022. 
  • In-Person – If you don’t trust the mail to get there on time, you can also vote in-person or drop your ballot off at the City Hall Voting Center, any one of these 588 polling places or any of the 34 official ballot drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. on June 7 (RT)

Manny’s Summer Kickoff: Elections & Jazz

Manny’s, 3092 16th St.
Tuesday, June 7, 7 – 9 p.m. | $5 – $10

Hey, we get it—voting can be stressful, particularly in San Francisco, where we have so many controversial issues on the ballot, like Prop H regarding the potential recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Then there’s Prop C which would reform recalls. It’s complicated! If you voted, you deserve more than an “I voted” sticker. That’s why Manny’s is inviting you over for a Kiki—a soiree with some drinks and live jazz music! So, stop by to socialize with your community, pat yourself on the back for being civically engaged and raise a glass. (MM)

Build a Future of Black and Asian Coalition

Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero
Tuesday, June 7, 6 – 7 p.m. | Free, but registration is required

The murder of George Floyd sparked a sociopolitical upheaval that is still reverberating across the nation, and the COVID-19 pandemic spawned a number of violent attacks on Asian Americans. How can these two communities mutually support one another in the face of historic and current discrimination? It’s time to join San Francisco thought leaders for a discussion on coalition building between Asian and Black communities. 

The panel includes Renard Monroe, executive director of Youth 1st; Jon Osaki, executive director of the Japanese Community Youth Council; Shakirah Simley; executive director of the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center; and Sarah Wan, executive director of the Community Youth Center and co-chair for API Council. A reception with refreshments will follow the panel discussion. (MM)

Showing Up for Racial Justice Through the Power of Public Policy

Virtual
Wednesday, June 8, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. | $0 – $10

The fight for collective liberation goes much deeper than corporations creating ice cream flavors for Juneteenth. Racial inequity is a systemic issue that has to be dismantled from within and public policy is one of the key ingredients. Showing Up for Racial Justice is leading a virtual legislative workshop where participants can learn to navigate California’s legislative process and understand the importance of public policy and grassroots organizing and its vital role in achieving racial justice. You will learn directly from SURJ’s BIPOC-led partner organizations about the legislative document, the Vision for Black Lives, that sets parameters for policymakers to take direct action against policies that have historically created an unlevel playing field for people of color. (RT)

After Dark: Pride—Unheard Stories

Exploratorium, Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street)
Thursday, June 9, 6 – 10 p.m. | $19.95+

As part of their “After Dark” events, the Exploratorium opens its doors on Thursday nights to adults (18+ only) to enjoy a drink and over 600 hands-on science exhibits. This upcoming Thursday, the Exploratorium welcomes attendees to share their LGBTQ+ stories and to celebrate past accomplishments, present life and future achievements. At this event, you can be proud of who you are! It’s not the mind-bending mirrors of the Exploratorium playing tricks on you. You may have visited this museum as a child on a school field trip and now you can share your stories and heal your inner child. (RT)

The 7th Annual Spring India Day 

Union Square
Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free

Union Square in San Francisco will host the annual Spring India Day. This day is dedicated to all things Indian, complete with music, dance, food and even a mother-daughter fashion show. In addition, organizations and businesses from the Indian Diaspora will have exhibits. The mission of Spring India Day is to raise San Francisco’s awareness about the influence of Indian culture on San Francisco and encourage youth to get involved and carry on cultural traditions. (MM)

Historic Aids Memorial Quilt Display

Golden Gate Park, Robin Williams Meadow
June 11 & June 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free

Visitors to the National AIDS Memorial quilt share a private moment while viewing the giant quilt with the names of AIDS victims in Denver on April 22, 1988. | Via Getty

Honor over 110,000 people who lost their lives to AIDS and remember their names with a quilt of more than 50,000 hand-stitched panels sewn together for the Historic AIDS Memorial Quilt Display. Weighing 54 tons, the display will be breaking records as the largest display in over ten years and in all of San Francisco history. Just like the quilt’s panels are connected by thread, the event aims to connect San Franciscans to the people and communities impacted by AIDS and to raise awareness of the ongoing AIDS epidemic. There will be a reading of names on both days and a closing ceremony where hundreds of new panels will be added to the quilt. Guests will be able to walk through the massive display and discover the stories that are sewn into the large blanket. (RT)

GLBT Historical Society Free Museum Day

GLBT Historical Society Museum, 4127 18th St.
June 11 & June 12, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free

Courtesy of GLBT Historical Society Museum

When it opened in 2011, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Museum made history as the first stand-alone museum of LGBTQ+ history and culture in the nation. The museum has one of the largest archives of queer history. You can see their long-term exhibition, “Queer Past Becomes Queer Present,” which features the personal belongings of many historical LGBTQ+ figures, like California’s first openly-gay elected official, Harvey Milk. The museum also has a piece of one of the original rainbow flags first raised in 1978 at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. The museum will be free to all visitors this upcoming weekend, but since admission is in on a first-come-first-serve basis, you’ll want to run, not walk! (RT)

Sunday Streets Excelsior 

Mission Street from Theresa St. to Geneva Ave.
Sunday, June 12, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Free

Sunday Streets—San Francisco’s take on Ciclovía—comes to the Excelsior with blocks of open roads to stroll, bike or roll through. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition sets up shop with Freedom from Training Wheels sessions from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help tykes 2 to 5 learn how to pedal without the help of extra wheels. The group will have pedal bikes, balance bikes and helmets available for little ones to use, but you are welcome to bring your own and no preregistration is required. Just show up. Parents/caregivers are required to stick around for the duration of the class and equipment will be sanitized between students. If you have questions, contact Chester Hartsbough at [email protected]. (CJC)

The post This Week in Civics: Go Vote! Celebrate Queer History, Learn to Ride a Bike appeared first on The Paloalto Digest.

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