FOX’S FIRST ON COVID:
The Queer Cultural Center in San Francisco received 19 relief money from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP), which were used for events like “drag story hour” and face painting for kids at the public library, among other things.
The Democratic Party promoted the ARP Act, which Democrats enacted in March 2021 without any Republican support, as a crucial economic measure to help the nation survive the COVID-19 epidemic. Since then, economists from opposing political parties have said that the $1.9 trillion ARP is to blame for the current inflation crisis.
Grants were given to hundreds of groups by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which received $135 million in ARP money, “to help with rehabilitation and reopening,” the NEA said in January .
The Center for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Art and Culture (also known as Queer Cultural Center) reportedly received a $150,000 ARP grant in January “to fund personnel expenses in response to and recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak,” according to NEA records .
$15 million from the American Rescue Plan was allocated to programs for children against racism and social activism.
According to the NEA award, “the assistance will enable the organization maintain operations while recovering from the terrible economic and health repercussions of the COVID-19 outbreak.” “The constituency of the organization, including arts workers, artists, and viewers, will benefit from this help.”
At the San Francisco Public Library in June, the QCC provided face painting and a “drag story hour” for kids.
Please join us for a very special storytime that will promote reading enjoyment while imparting deeper lessons on diversity, respect for oneself, and tolerance of others, according to the event description . “The ultra-glamorous PerSia will read children’s favorite stories at this fantastic event for kids and families! For kids, face painting is available. supplied are vegan munchies.”
The QCC “promotes social justice and the aesthetic and financial development of queer art and culture,” according to its website.
According to the website, “QCC is financed in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts under the American Rescue Plan Act to support general operational costs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.”
The QCC has also included programming devoted to the books “Nigerian Dyke Feminism” and “Black Faggotry.” by Dazi Grego-Sykes.
For grants promoting green infrastructure and environmental justice, the EPA utilized COVID-19 Relief Funds.
Fresh Meat Productions, a transgender dance studio in San Francisco that provides free films on its website, was also given $150,000 in ARP money by the NEA.
A breathing exercise for “Black, Brown, and Indigenous individuals” who “still have to cope with White peoples bulls—-” is included in One of the videos led by J Mase III, a self-described “Black/Trans/queer poet” and author of the book “White Folks Be Trippin.”
In the 2020 video, Mase explains, “I wanted to create some space for us to cope with our own healing, create our own protective barriers against White peoples bulls—-, and just have a place for joy.” “Inhale deeply to begin your recovery, and exhale deeply to rid yourself of White supremacist bile. Inhale in the knowledge of your ancestors, and exhale deeply the founding father f—-boys.”
Drag artist Churro Nomi offers a seated dance lesson in another video in the series that is marketed as being “for people of all ages.”
“Have a sparkly item, a stunning lipstick shade, or a striking piece of clothing? In this 12-minute session, let’s dress up and move like the drag royalty we are!” the video description states .
