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If you find yourself in San Francisco on Easter Sunday, don't expect just chocolate bunnies and quiet church bells. Instead, head straight to Mission Dolores Park, where the grass is covered in glitter, the air smells like eucalyptus and hairspray, and the "nuns" are wearing whiteface makeup and roller skates.
Welcome to the world of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. For over four decades, this order of 21st-century queer nuns has turned Easter upside down, replacing solemnity with "Hunky Jesus" and "Foxy Mary." At Read with Pride, we’re all about celebrating the stories that make our community legendary, whether they are found in the pages of our favorite MM romance books or written in the streets of the Castro.
Today, we’re diving into the history of the Sisters, the rise of the Hunky Jesus contest, and why this San Francisco tradition is more than just a party, it’s a radical act of love and resistance.
The Convent That Started with a Joke (and a Few Habits)
The story of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence sounds like the plot of a fantastic gay romance novel. It all started on Easter weekend in 1979. Ken Bunch (who would later become Sister Vish-Knew) and a couple of friends had managed to get their hands on actual, retired nun habits from a convent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Why? Because why not?
They donned the habits and decided to take a stroll through the Castro District. In the late '70s, the Castro was the beating heart of gay liberation, but even for those seasoned activists, the sight of three men in full habits walking down 18th Street was "electric." People didn't just look; they stared, they laughed, and they felt a strange sense of liberation.
By 1980, the joke had become a mission. The group formally organized with a manifesto that remains as powerful today as it was then: to "promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt." They weren't just mocking religion; they were reclaiming the idea of "service" and "sanctity" for a community that the traditional church had long abandoned.
More Than Habit-ual: Activism and the AIDS Crisis
While the Sisters are known for their irreverent humor, their history is deeply rooted in serious activism. As the 1980s progressed and the HIV/AIDS epidemic began to devastate the LGBTQ+ community, the Sisters didn't retreat. They stepped up.
In 1981, they organized the very first AIDS fundraiser. They also created "Play Fair!", the first sex-positive safer sex education pamphlet that used plain language and humor to save lives without shaming the community. When people were dying and the government was silent, the Sisters were there, nursing the sick, raising money for hospice care, and providing a sense of community for those who felt like outcasts.
This blend of high-camp performance and street-level social work is what makes them so iconic. They proved that you could wear a wimple and a beard while also being a fierce advocate for human rights. If you’re looking for that kind of depth in your reading list, check out some of the gay historical romance titles on our post-sitemap for stories that capture that era of resilience.
The Evolution of Easter: From Pub Crawls to Dolores Park
The flagship event we know today didn't happen overnight. In the early years, the Sisters celebrated their anniversary with smaller gatherings. In 1995, things got a bit rowdier with a parody of the "Stations of the Cross" that took the form of a pub crawl.
By 1999, the Sisters officially applied for a permit to hold an Easter block party. The Catholic Archdiocese wasn't exactly thrilled (to put it mildly), but the city of San Francisco stood by the Sisters. The first official "Hunky Jesus" contest happened around this time as a way to say "thank you" to the city for its support.
In 2000, the event moved to the sloping green hills of Dolores Park. What started with a few hundred people has ballooned into a massive festival drawing over 10,000 attendees annually. It’s now a staple of San Francisco culture, right up there with the Pride Parade and Folsom Street Fair.
Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary: The Main Event
The highlight of the afternoon is, of course, the Hunky Jesus Contest. It’s exactly what it sounds like, but with a San Francisco twist. Participants from all over the world come to compete for the title.
We’ve seen it all:
- "Ken Jesus": A mashup of the Barbie movie aesthetic and the resurrection, complete with a pink crown of thorns.
- "Surfer Jesus": Carrying a cross-shaped surfboard.
- "Anatomy Jesus": Let's just say it involved a lot of body paint and very little fabric.
But it’s not just about the guys. The Foxy Mary contest is equally competitive, featuring drag queens, trans women, and allies bringing their best "Mother of God" energy to the stage.
Is it sacrilegious? To some, yes. But to the thousands of queer people in the audience, it’s a way of saying, "We can be sacred, too." It’s about stripping away the "stigmatic guilt" the Sisters talk about in their mission statement and replacing it with pure, unadulterated joy.
Why We Need the Sisters in 2026
You might think that in 2026, a group of men in habits wouldn't be controversial anymore. But as we've seen in recent years, the fight for LGBTQ+ visibility is far from over. The Sisters continue to be targets of right-wing rhetoric, yet they remain unshaken.
Their presence at Easter is a reminder that our history is rich, our humor is a weapon, and our community is a family. Whether they are raising money for local schools, advocating for trans rights, or simply blessing a crowd with a sprinkle of glitter, the Sisters represent the best of us.
At Readwithpride.com, we believe in the power of authentic representation. Just as the Sisters use performance to tell a story of liberation, the gay authors and queer authors we publish use the written word to build worlds where everyone is seen. From steamy MM romance to heartfelt gay fiction, our collection is a testament to the diverse experiences of our community.
How to Celebrate Easter Sister-Style
If you can’t make it to San Francisco this year, you can still channel the spirit of the Sisters:
- Read with Pride: Pick up a new MM romance book or a gay adventure romance from our store.
- Support Local Charities: The Sisters are all about community service. Find an LGBTQ+ nonprofit in your area and give what you can.
- Spread Universal Joy: Be kind, be loud, and don't let anyone make you feel "guilty" for who you are.
- Get Creative: You don't need a permit for a Hunky Jesus contest in your own living room (though your roommates might have thoughts).
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have shown us that being "holy" doesn't have to mean being quiet. It can mean being fabulous, being fierce, and being unapologetically queer.
As Sister Roma often says, the Easter event is "probably the most spiritual, beautiful, uplifting, holy event" in the city. And honestly? We couldn't agree more.
Stay tuned to our blog for more deep dives into LGBTQ+ history, book recommendations, and all things queer culture. Don't forget to follow us on social media to stay updated on the best MM romance of 2026!
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