In a mansion overlooking San Francisco, SF State’s Feminism In Action club held its first major event Friday night with an evening of music, art and mingling as a fundraiser for this election’s No on Prop. 4 and 8 campaigns.

With many members and nonmembers mingling over sangria and artwork lining the walls from floor to ceiling, the event aimed to promote women artists of SF State as well as give guests the chance to enjoy acoustic musical sets and unite against Propositions 4 and 8.

“It’s almost like preaching to the choir, but the point is to get people excited enough to tell other people,” said Vanessa Bachik, the vice president of FIA and hostess of the party. “It’s like putting wood on a fire.”

Proposition 4, which aims to limit a teen’s right to privacy over an abortion, has seen two previous appearances on California ballots, while Proposition 8 aims to ban gay marriage.

Feminism In Action, a transnational feminist group, has been on the frontline at SF State in the effort to raise student awareness against both campaigns, and acted as one of the catalysts in bringing Mayor Gavin Newsom to rally against the propositions on September 18.

One of the most commanding pieces of art was a nude jumpsuit adorned with hand sewn fabric models of sushi, worn by its creator, FIA Secretary Kaye Chew.

“It was inspired by restaurants that serve sushi on naked women,” said Chew, a women studies major. “People always say Japanese people only eat sushi, so I’m trying to assume a stereotype in order to explode it, and to start conversations about gender and food. It’s also my Halloween costume!”

In the low-lit living room, an intimate crowd gathered to listen to Maggie Morris, an art history major at SF State and member of FIA.

“A lot of girls, and even guys can relate to my music,” she said after her set. “It’s about being awkward and shy. A lot of female musicians in the past were looked down upon at first, so it’s empowering as a female to play people my songs.”

Although an fundraiser with a feminist twist, there was a strong male presence.

“I’m in support of feminism because I definitely feel women should have equal rights,” said Keith Montanez, a 21-year-old BECA major.

Montanez is also a strong proponent of the No on Prop. 8 campaign.

“I tell anyone I talk politics with about the campaign, and I’m also a DJ at KSFS,” he said, when asked how he spreads the campaign’s message.

He said he looks forward to getting a campaign poster to put up in his window where his neighbors, who are against gay marriage, will read it everyday.

The fundraiser collected about $300, which F.I.A.plans to use for events during Women's History Month in March 2009.