Events
REVOLVE Art and Film Festival Kicks Off August 24th
The 3rd Annual Spectrum Queer Media “REVOLVE, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) and allies, Pride creative Arts and Film Festival” will be held in Oakland from Aug. 24th to Aug. 30th.
REVOLVE 2014 is a week of cinematic and artistic celebration of LGBTQ artists as a precursor to Oakland’s Pride celebration.
Spectrum Queer Media will be presenting award winning LGBTQIA movies each night. The festival takes place in the arts community of downtown Oakland and encompasses exhibition, gallery and theatre venues throughout the city, including Oakland City Hall and ends with the R/EVOLVE Bay Cruise.
“I am An Artivist: Social Activism through Art” is this year’s theme. The festival kicks off with a gala at “Oakland Venue at 420 14th St.
The opening will be hosted by gay funnyman, Grammy nominee Sampson McCormick, and Melanie DeMore a vocal activist. Both have documentaries that will be shown.
Monica Anderson, also known as Kin Folkz, founded Spectrum Queer Media in 2009 to honor and highlight LGBTQ media representations that promote authentic visions, voices and viewpoints.
Each night will bring something new starting on the first night with “Visionaries Won,” a digital exhibit highlighting LGBTQIA artists who are redefining the meaning of self with sound and sight as their conduit.
There will be artwork on display, with several exhibiting artists in attendance to curate their pieces and share their thoughts.
Day 2 will be at Imagine Affairs Art lounge at 408 14th St. with performance and films. Performances will include singer/songwriter, Gina Breedlove dubbed as “the vocal priestess” and local celebrity musician, “Black Berri,” whose music recordings were placed in The Smithsonian Library of music 10 years ago.
Black Berri will be honored along with director/writer/actor Maurice Jamal for activism through film. Jamal’s film credits include, “Dirty laundry,” a 2006 film that he wrote, directed and starred
in alongside actresses Loretta Divine and Jennifer Lewis.
The movie about a gay Black man who comes out to his family and meets a son he might have fathered years prior.
Day 3 will move to Joyce Gordon Gallery, which will feature such artists as “The Literary Masturbator,” a local gay poet and artist Kermit Amenophis.
The Oakland Eastbay Gay men’s chorus will also perform at Joyce Gordon’s Gallery.
For the complete schedule go to www.SpectrumQueerMedia.com
Barbara Lee
WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland
“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.
Special to The Post
The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.
The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.
“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”
In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.
About the Golden State Valkyries
The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.
This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.
Bay Area
Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary
Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

By Oakland Post Staff
The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.
Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.
The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.
Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.
The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.
Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.
Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of May 14 – 20, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 14 – 20, 2025

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