SF's Pink Saturday Is Back On

San Francisco's often tumultuous Pink Saturday street party, held on the day before the Pride parade, was canceled last month after the withdrawal of its longtime sponsor, the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence, who cited the event's "escalation of violence." But today the San Francisco LGBT Community Center stepped in to run this year's party with a promise of increased security. From their announcement:

We are honored and humbled to continue the legacy of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. We share their commitment to bringing together our diverse LGBT communities across age, race, culture, income and geography. As an affordable event that is well attended by young people, it is an essential component of Pride weekend. For many of us Pride weekend represents a set of magic moments where we are free to be our authentic selves in a public and supportive setting.

We are committed to community safety and creating public spaces that are free from violence. As Pink Saturday has historically been the destination for many of the tens of thousands participants of Dyke March as well as the Saturday Pride festival, creating a strong infrastructure for our community to gather is critical to the success of Pride weekend. Our leadership of a celebration that is safe, fun and welcoming for everyone is part of that vision. This year’s event will feature expanded entertainment and increased security to promote a celebratory and safe environment.

(Tipped by JMG reader Steve)

RELATED: Pink Saturday has long been criticized for its unruly crowds. Last year two Sisters were assaulted and two women were attacked by a group of six men. In 2013 a woman was brutally beaten and robbed during the event. Her attacker was later sentenced to six years in prison. In 2010, three people were shot and one young man was killed during a gang-related altercation on Pink Saturday.

SF's Pink Saturday Event Is Canceled

San Francisco's often tumultuous Pink Saturday street party, held on the day before the Pride parade, has been canceled for this year. Via press release from the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence:

Pink Saturday has had a history of great joy for the community over the years. During the time it has been produced by the Sisters it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for community non-profits. Pink Saturday has been a very successful event and has grown immensely since the early 90s. Unfortunately with that growth comes an increase in challenges. “Pink Saturday has been increasingly difficult to produce in recent years,” says Sister Selma Soul, coordinator of the event for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. “An escalation in violence associated with the event convinced us last summer that the event needed to significantly change if we were to produce it again.”

After months of meetings with community members, Supervisor Scott Wiener, the SFPD, and various city agencies, no clear vision for the event has been developed that addresses the concerns of the community, our volunteers and our members. Without a clear vision this close to Pride Weekend, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have voted to suspend planning for 2015 and will not be applying for a street closure in the Castro for Saturday, June 27, 2015. The Sisters may explore new manifestations of “Pink Saturday” in future years, but at this time we are suspending production. As a group composed solely of volunteers with no paid staff, the challenges that have grown with the event are simply too great for our organization to address.

Pink Saturday has long been criticized for its unruly crowds. Last year two Sisters were assaulted  and two women were attacked by a group of six men. In 2013 a woman was brutally beaten and robbed during the event. Her attacker was later sentenced to six years in prison. In 2010, three people were shot and one young man was killed during a gang-related altercation on Pink Saturday.

Paging Bill Donohue

Details.

Porno Pete Stalks Gays In San Francisco

In a blog entry posted today, Porno Pete LaBarbera revealed that he traveled to San Francisco last month in order to stalk the performers and attendees at the "uber blasphemous" Hunky Jesus contest held every Easter by the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence at Dolores Park.  But Porno's creepy cross-country crusade was tragically for naught, as the contest was postponed due to rain and all he got was photos of a couple of bare-bottomed dudes in bunny costumes. WAH-wah.

Photo Of The Day

SF Weekly reports:

You can count on San Francisco to keep things real, and last night the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence didn't just keep it real, they kept it really entertaining. Was it a coincidence that the sisters had dinner reservations next to the very conservative Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio (aka "America's Toughest Sheriff") last night at John's Grill in Union Square? Whether it was or wasn't, last night's surprise dinner guests made for some great Kodak (and Hallmark) moments.

More photos at the link. (Tipped by JMG reader Dan)

Call Me Saint JoeMyGawd

Last night at Remember The Party here in San Francisco, I was surprised by the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence who were there to name me one of their saints. For a second, I actually thought I was being pranked until they asked me to kneel for the canonization ritual and the photographers moved in.

As Sisters we strive to uphold our vows to our community; to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt. While the pathway of a Sister isn’t for everyone, we recognize special individuals living the calling in their own lives through their devotion to public service, social activism, and spiritual enlightenment. In recognition of their actions we give the honorific of Sainthood within the Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The Sisters could not minister to the community without the exemplary support and collaboration with our Saints and in this humble way we thank them for their continued embodiment of service, action and joy.

I'm truly honored. (Top photo by JMG reader Jeb)

Newspaper Correction

And it turns out that the part of the San Francisco Chronicle story that most enraged some local Catholics wasn't true. Sister Barbi Mitzah responds in the comments to the correction:

You only wrote about this and the made-up story because it sensationalizes your story. Personally, I've seen better journalism on a box of cheerios. Next time you want to write about the Sisters, I suggest you contact us DIRECTLY rather than make up a false story. I am sure you did this only to rescind it later on your blog. Typical poor reporting from the Chronicle to sell a few papers and get a few hits on your website.

It IS a funny correction, we must concede.

Seriously, NBC?

According to NBC Bay Area, the death of a one-time San Francisco mayoral candidate and highly-regarded AIDS activist falls under "Weird News" because he occasionally wore a costume. We'll have to remember that the next time a famous costumed person dies.

Sister Boom Boom Dies At 57

Well known Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence member, one-time San Francisco mayoral candidate, and early AIDS activist Jack "Sister Boom Boom" Fertig passed away Sunday night at age of 57. The Sisters send us this remembrance:

On August 5, 2012 at 9:30 PM, Sister Boom Boom aka Jack Fertig succumbed to liver cancer in the loving presence of his partner Elias Trevino and dogs, Chloe and Perry. Jack was also known to many as teacher, astrologer, artist, and a devout and faithful scholar of Islam. Sister Boom Boom was a key Queer pioneer who took Queer Consciousness to the mainstream. In 1982, Sister Boom Boom nearly won a Board of Supervisors seat by running a uniquely San Francisco campaign of radical politics and nun drag. She won 23,124 votes with her occupation listed as “Nun of the Above.”

A year later, Boom Boom ran for the 1983 mayoral race against incumbent Dianne Feinstein and, as a result, San Francisco passed a law that requires candidates to only use their legal names on the ballot. This law is often referred to as the “Sister Boom Boom” law. Due to internal disputes, Jack Fertig broke from the Sisters in 1985. Jack Fertig went on to pursue his Divine calling and became an award-winning astrologer and respected Queer Muslim activist. He was also an avid organizer in the leather and sober communities. Cleve Jones, AIDS activist and creator of the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt remembers Sister Boom Boom as a “dear friend” and a “fierce advocate for the poor and immigrant communities.”

Fertig eventually reconciled with the Sisters, who will announce a public memorial for Sister Boom Boom shortly. (Tipped by JMG reader Daigan)

Sunday: AIDS Vigil In The Castro

This Sunday the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence will lead the 29th annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial in San Francisco's Castro District. Similar events will take place that day throughout the world.

Health, faith and community-based organizations in some 115 countries will use the event to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS, to support those living with HIV and affected by its impact and spur calls to greater action from all actors in the HIV response. This year’s theme Promoting Health and Dignity Together carries a lot of meaning. The theme focuses onthe fact that the HIV response will only be successful when it is an effortthat is supported by and addresses the needs of all those affected by HIV,including all people living with HIV key populations such as men who have sexwith men, people who use drugs, and sex workers, as well as women and young people.

San Francisco's event starts at 8pm at Harvey Milk Plaza.

Today In SF: Hunky Jesus Contest

San Franciscans, don't forget today's legendary party in Dolores Park, where the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence will present their annual Hunky Jesus contest. Festivities begin at noon, the contest commences at 3PM. Tomorrow we get to enjoy the outraaaaged reactions from Bill Donohue! Here's a clip from Hunky Jesus 2011.

Sullivan Vs. Sisters, Round Two

"Rail against the supposed grief we cause believers and wrap yourself in self-righteous anger if it makes you feel good- it’s your shtick and in these tough times I know you need a paycheck. But for the love of every young LGBTQI kid out there trying to find a way through this cruel world, please stop carping on about how events like Hunky Jesus 'empower every religious right prejudice about gays.' Bigotry like that is irrational and self- generating. They hate us because we’re GAY, Andrew, period.

"It’s actually the GAYS and all those stung by that hatred the Sisters try to help by creating space for a good belly laugh at all the holier-than-thou attitudes that keep us down. If we’re all going to Hell, there’s no reason we can’t have fun and look fabulous on the way! I’m sorry that a bunch of drag nun volunteers with a cheap sound system don’t rise to your definition of high art, but blasphemy is a democratic art form that delivers its most profound punch at street level where ordinary people struggle every day." - Sister Merry Peter, responding to Andrew Sullivan's criticism of the Hunky Jesus contest.

Read Sister Merry's full response.

Andrew Sullivan On "Hunky Jesus"

"I am a First Amendment absolutist, as readers know. And I'm also a solid defender of the right to blasphemy. But there are smart ways of doing this, ways that illuminate broader issues - think of 'The Book Of Mormon' or any South Park episode. And then there are smug, cheap and unfunny shots at the faith of other people. Really, this makes me feel like Bill Donohue. You want to grow some balls? Hold a Hunky Mohammed Contest on Ramadan. And, by the way, thanks for doing your bit to empower every religious right prejudice about gays." - Andrew Sullivan, on the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Hunky Jesus 2011

Totally NSFW.

The Sisters Fire Back At Porno Pete

San Francisco's Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have fired back at hate activist Porno Pete LaBarbera, who yesterday circulated a press release denouncing the Sisters' annual "Hunky Jesus" contest. An excerpt:

First of all the Sisters would like to thank Peter La Barbaria for all the free publicity he is providing for our Hunky Jesus Contest. Even in the most reactionary communities and families there are brilliant young queer children aching for something truly revolutionary, a chance to be utterly glamorous, and to royally piss off their uptight, puritanical parents. The Sisters often declare their love for Peter and especially appreciate Mr. LaBabar's effectiveness in getting news and images of the Sisters to those children. Of course we don't hate anybody, but his saying we do is a great way to grab the interest of angry resentful children, and we have much experience in helping GLBT youngsters work through their anger to find a more joyous spiritual path.

However, as much as Mr. La Barbarella is promoting our appeal to rebellious youth, it is not really our intention or purpose to offend Christians. Many of our friends and fans are Christians as are some of the Sisters. It's not even our intention or purpose to offend uptight, humorless prigs, though we often do so by suggesting that the Deity has a sense of humor. After all, God created a garden of paradise for us, declared His/Her love for us, and created such laughably bizarre creatures as the platypus, the naked mole rat, and Sarah Palin. But our mission is not to offend. Rather we are dedicated to the expiation of stigmatic guilt and the promulgation of universal joy. Still, we do understand that any sort of liberating theology is offensive to those who want to keep others under their thumbs. Offending prudes and tyrants is not our purpose, but we consider it a bit of a bonus.

Read the Sisters' full message.

Quote Of The Day - Peter LaBarbera

"This Easter Sunday in San Francisco's Delores Park, Christianity-spoofing homosexual drag queen 'nuns' calling themselves the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will stage their annual 'Hunky Jesus' contest -- mocking the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ -- as shirtless men in 'crucifixion' costumes parade on stage in an atmosphere of haughty, homoerotic humor.

"There's nothing that delights arrogant, pro-homosexual liberals more than making fun of Bible-believing Christians -- as evidenced by this blasphemous Easter contest. Of course, it goes without saying that these defiant champions of 'tolerance and diversity' wouldn't dare hold a 'Hunky Muhammad' contest during Ramadan -- so it seems even envelope-pushing, in-your-face, pro-perversion libertines know their limits." - Porno Pete LaBarbera, in a press release distributed today by Christian Newswire and republished on Free Republic.

The Sisters - It Gets Better

AIDS Quilt Ceremony At Gay Games

Like much of what the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do, this ceremony manages to be simultaneously silly and moving. I believe this is the local Cologne order.

SF's Dolores Park To Close For 2 Years

JMG reader Adam tips us to the news that San Francisco's Dolores Park, favorite sunning place for the city's gay boys, will close for up to two years for a massive $12M renovation.

The project scope will include the repair and/or renovation of the courts, field, and clubhouse; restoration of existing roads and pathways; upgrades to subsurface infrastructure, irrigation and lighting; modifications to the site to remove barriers and improve accessibility, and overall reconditioning of the park landscape. The renovation of the children's playground will be completed under a seperate project.

The good news is the project doesn't begin until next August, so the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and other groups that hold events in the park will have plenty of time to make other plans. If you happen to be in San Francisco this Easter, do not miss the Sisters' party in Dolores Park.

Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence Celebrate 30 Years Of Community Service

Yesterday the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence celebrated 30 years of service to the LGBT community with their annual Easter party in San Francisco's Dolores Park. Here's a great look at the Sisters' history from In The Life.