<tap, tap> Is this thing on? I wasn’t planning to make this make this my first post—don’t worry there will be plenty of trans-related posts later on—but given <gestures at everything today> I figured we all could use a little joy.
While I didn’t make it yesterday, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s annual Easter celebration, featuring the (in)famous “Hunky Jesus” contest is the sort of bad taste good fun event that San Francisco is famous for. As one local writer put it:
Hunky Jesus is queer church without the guilt. It is what Pride would be if corporations hadn’t found it. And it is San Francisco’s most sacred act of nonsense.
It, and the Sisters, are irresistible bait for denunciations by reactionaries, but in my book the Sisters embody the spirit of Christian charity far more than their screeching detractors. They began the eve of the AIDS years as a small group of gay men here who began wearing the attire of Catholic nuns with clown-like makeup, using camp to promote various social and political causes. In the decades since, they’ve grown into an international network of autonomous orders, which are mostly registered as non-profit charity organizations that raise money for AIDS, LGBT-related causes, and mainstream community service organizations. They also promote safer sex and educate others about the harmful effects of drug use and other high risk behaviors.
The Sisters’ annual Easter celebrations—What’s the Story Behind the Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary Contests?—are obviously camp and a bit tongue-in-cheek, but they genuinely provide “joyful communion” as well. Here’s one round-up of photos, as well as a second set of photos (both generally safe for work).
What’s bringing you joy in these grim times?
Note: While this is generally an open-ish thread, I’m not planning to get into trans issues and I’d appreciate if you do the same (hey even I need a break from dealing with them). Also, a quick reminder that I use she/her pronouns. Finally, as our Blogmeister has made clear, those who want to engage in transphobic and queerphobic shit are not welcome. Those who do so here will get up close and personal with the Mallet of Loving Correction. As was said by ACT UP! activists in the AIDS days: “You killed off all the nice queers, now you’re gonna have to deal with the pissed-off cockroach queers.” So please don’t test me. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
