Let’s support the USPS — one snarky piece of postage at a time.
Republican Louis DeJoy has stepped down as Postmaster General after almost five years of trying to restructure the money-losing United States Postal Service. He faced much criticism, especially from Democrats, over his handling of election mail. And it sounds like his exit is what the orange-haired leader and his buddy Musky wanted anyway. Their goal is to privatize the postal service, which will significantly affect its services.
I can’t remember exactly when my fascination with the Post Office began. As a kid, when my family received holiday cards –– it was the envelope the card came in that I was obsessed with—the handwriting, whether blocky or elaborate script, said something about its sender. And the stamps! Those who really “know me” know how much I love stamps (yes, I am a philatelist). When the holidays were over, I’d gather all the cards and envelopes and compare them to the names and addresses in my family’s address book.
Let’s be honest; I’m not truly a birthday card sender. But I send thousands of cards worldwide on many occasions. I like to keep in touch and remind people I love and am thinking about them. When I sit down to address an envelope—it’s a moment of reflection, a mental check-in with a friend, wherever they are, no matter how long it’s been since I last saw them. I say things to myself like, ‘Aww — I miss them,’ or ‘I haven’t heard from them in ages,’ or, on that rare occasion, ‘I know they moved—this is not their current address, and I’m not gonna waste a stamp!’ Believe me when I say I’m not shy about asking the sender to reimburse me for the cost of the stamp when the mail gets returned. The cost of a first-class stamp is 73 cents!
I go to my local post office almost every day. When I walk in, it’s like an iconic scene from “Cheers.”. Several postal workers have been at my neighborhood office for the 30 years I’ve lived there. Without fail, during each visit, I spot someone who looks like they’ve never stepped inside a USPS branch in their entire life. Some walk up to the counter with an open box with no address written on it. I take a deep breath while the sales associate says, “You need to seal the box and write the return and outgoing address before I can send this package.”
The USPS employs more than 7.5 million people, historically providing an avenue towards middle-class stability for various Americans. It is among the largest employers of veterans in the entire country. The second largest majority of workers are African Americans, followed by immigrants and rural migrants. Today, the Postal Service is 37 percent minority and 37 percent female.
As I said, I send thousands of cards worldwide to my family, friends, lovers, and followers throughout the year. I like to keep in touch and remind people that I love most of them.
So let’s support the Post Office! Please join me for the April Fool Love Letter Writing Campaign. So many fools out there need to hear from us. We will provide the postcards, pens, and stamps, and you can choose who to send the card to from various recipients’ pre-addressed labels. There will also be some background information on some of the angels receiving them.
April Fool Love Letter Writing Campaign will be held on Tuesday, pril 1, 2025, at the Lookout (3600 16th Street, SF, CA 94114) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Juanita MORE! is a denizen of the limelight. For almost three decades, the laudable hostess has blitzed San Francisco with high glamour, drag irreverence, and danceable beats that have illuminated the entire city. MORE! continues to be a heaping dollop of generosity and a sprinkle of nerve. She inspires those around her to make positive differences in their lives and communities — and doing it all with timeless elegance and an innovative spirit. Most recently, after her reign, Miss MORE! holds the title of Absolute Empress 56 of the Imperial Council of San Francisco –– one of the oldest non-profit organizations globally.
To date, MORE! has helped raise over 1 million dollars for local charities — among them GBLT Historical Society & Archives, Our Trans Youth, Q Foundation, Queer Lifespace, Transgender Law Center, and more. In addition, MORE! tirelessly fundraises for organizations in San Francisco that are adamant about helping communities in the seven-by-seven thrive, all while shining light and offering support to those who’ve been overlooked for far too long.
MORE! embodies what it means to be a conduit of connection. MORE!’ brings the people together to fundraise, celebrate community, and demand social change around San Francisco and elsewhere. Her culinary expressions are an extension of what mothers have been doing in their kitchens for generations — which, simply states, is sharing “loads of love.”