A fundraising event called the “Great District 8 Chili Cook-Off” on behalf of orphans in Chile which was sponsored by Rainbow World Fund. The Rainbow World Fund is an “an all-volunteer international humanitarian service agency based in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and friends community.”. The fundraising event was scheduled last Sunday afternoon at Ellard Hall, the parish hall of San Francisco’s Most Holy Redeemer Church located in the city’s 8th supervisorial district.
According to the press, the charitable event was scheduled to include the first public return of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to the Most Holy Redeemer Church since the 7th of October 2007. According to an article published in the Bay Area Reporter the “emcees for the event will be current District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty and Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”. The Bay Area Reporter is one of the longest running and largest local newspapers that serve the LGBTQI communities. Two members of the group embarrassed San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer when they presented themselves for communion in drag. The archbishop gave the self-described “queer nuns” communion but within a week, he had publicly apologized for his actions and issued a statement strongly critical of the group.
An important emcee at this event was Sister Roma. Sister Roma is a world famous drag queen, social rights activist of the LGBTQI community and an art director of gay adult movie studio “Hot House Entertainment”. In addition to being a professional adult movie director, Sister Roma has served as an emcee at the Folsom Street Fair, an annual San Francisco event that celebrated BDSM and leather subculture.This event concluded the city’s yearly Leather Pride Week. Sister Roma also co-hosts an online live-format talk show about the adult movie industry.
In 2006, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence described themselves as “the leading-edge order of queer nuns” alongside their official slogan is “go forth and sin some more”. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were booted out of Ellard Hall which was the same parish hall where Sunday’s cook-off was scheduled. The group had leased Most Holy Redeemer’s parish hall for bingo games to raise funds for HIV/AIDS programs, until the chancery ordered them evicted,
In 2008, Sister Roma posed as Mary Magdalene in a now notorious poster that promoted that year’s Folsom Street Fair. The poster was a take-off of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” with men and women in leather attire posed as the apostles. Scattered around the table were various whips and BDSM restraint devices. The poster provoked outrage among Christians all over the country.
Sister Roma also acted as emcee at the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s annual “Hunky Jesus” contest. The contest took place on Easter Sunday which mocked the crucifixion of Jesus. Men dressed up as what they thought Jesus would have looked like and prizes were awarded for what was considered to be the best costume. The 2010 winner was Junky Jesus, who wore a loincloth covered with syringes.
Sister Roma is coming to Australia for the 2017 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and will be attending a meet and greet at 6pm on the 3rd of March 2017. The event will be hosted at Park Street Books which is located on Level 2, 44 Park Street, Sydney. Come along to this free event and meet one of the hardest working people supporting the LGBTQI community.