The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — which marked 45 years this year — had its annual Easter celebration chosen by Bay Area Reporter readers as the best LGBTQ event.
The celebration, which includes the marquee hunky Jesus and foxy Mary competitions, is obviously a longtime tradition. But in recent years, the return of the event to Mission Dolores Park, adjacent to the Castro; the urge to ditch COVID-era social distancing; and sunny weather have combined to make it the undisputed kick-off to spring in San Francisco.
"The Sisters are overjoyed with this honor," Sister Roma stated to the B.A.R. "Easter in the Park, featuring the infamous hunky Jesus contest, is our anniversary celebration. We showcase local talent and It's always free to thank the community for their love and support year after year. It feels so good to know that San Francisco loves this event as much as the Sisters love San Francisco!"
For its first two decades, the Sisters, an order of philanthropic drag nuns, held Easter in the Park at Collingwood Park, a small Castro neighborhood space in Eureka Valley. The celebration first started Easter Sunday 1979. The beginning of the Sisters can be traced to Ken Bunch (Sister Vicious PHB), Fred Brungard (Sister Missionary Position), and Baruch Golden. They went in full, traditional habits through the streets of San Francisco and down to the nude beach, according to the Sisters' website. They were met with shock and amazement, but captured the public's interest.
The founders came up with the name Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the group's mission: to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt. In 2022, Bunch was honored with a portion of Alert Alley near Dolores Park ceremonially renamed Sister Vish-Knew Way, as the B.A.R. noted at the time.
In 1999, on its 20th anniversary, the Sisters went big and closed down Castro Street for a block party that was met with strong resistance from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, which fought to have the street closure denied. (That led to gay then-Board of Supervisors president Tom Ammiano's famous "walk a mile in my pumps" comment to then-fellow supervisor Alicia Becerril during a heated board meeting held in the South of Market neighborhood where the street closure was approved on a vote of 9-2.)
The Sisters party that year garnered international media attention and CNN aired footage from the event. After that, it was held at Dolores Park until 2014, when the park underwent renovations and the event moved to Golden Gate Park; it returned to Dolores Park in 2019. It was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.
Next year Easter will be Sunday, April 20.
For more information, visit https://www.thesisters.org/
Runner-up
Folsom Street Fair
Best LGBTQ Cultural District
Castro LGBTQ Cultural District
The Castro was established as an official LGBTQ cultural district by the city in 2019, joining the Transgender District and the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District as the three catering to the queer community.
The Castro cultural district took a leading role in the fight to preserve the fixed, orchestra-style seats at the Castro Theatre after Another Planet Entertainment took over operating the space in 2022, as well as advocating for the progressive Pride flag to be flown in lieu of Gilbert Baker's six-stripe design rainbow flag at the site of the flag installation in Harvey Milk Plaza, which city supervisors are expected to landmark, as the Bay Area Reporter noted.
While those efforts didn't succeed, the forces opposed to APE's plans did win some concessions, such as a pledge to continue queer programming at the theater, which is currently closed due to renovations.
The district was also chosen by readers last year, as Tina Aguirre, a genderqueer Latinx person who is the district's director, noted in a statement to the B.A.R. thanking the public, the newspaper, and updating about what the district is doing.
"We have experienced a resurgence of community events such as Pride and people coming together to celebrate on a regular basis through participation in events in the Castro," Aguirre stated. "Last fiscal year the district distributed more than $40,000 in small business grants (more than $132,000 since we began distribution) along with producing events. This fiscal year promises to be beneficial in that we continued with legacy events like the Pulse Memorial event and co-producing Harvey Milk Day. We will also organize an art show that centers LGBTQ historically significant subjects and people."
For more information, visit https://castrolgbtq.org/.
Runner-up
Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District
Best LGBTQ Fundraiser
AIDS/LifeCycle
B.A.R. readers selected AIDS/LifeCycle as the best LGBTQ fundraiser. The seven-day 545-mile cycling tour launches in San Francisco and arrives in Los Angeles just in time for the City of Angels' annual Pride in June.
Over the past several decades, AIDS/LifeCycle has raised $300 million for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The event raised almost $11 million this year.
Cailin Corbett, ride director of AIDS/LifeCycle, told the B.A.R. that "this recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment and passion of our participants, volunteers, and donors."
"AIDS/LifeCycle is and always has been more than a ride — it's a movement, a community, and a powerful force for change," Corbett stated. "Thank you to everyone who has ridden, volunteered, donated, and cheered us on year after year. This award belongs to you. Together, we are making strides toward a future without HIV and AIDS, and we will continue to ride with determination and pride. You belong here, and together, we will keep moving forward."
AIDS/LifeCycle 2025 will be June 1-7.
For more information, visit https://www.aidslifecycle.org/.
Runner-up
Reunion (The GLBT Historical Society's annual gala)
Best LGBTQ Nonprofit
LYRIC
LYRIC, a center for LGBTQQ+ youth, has been voted by readers as the best LGBTQ nonprofit.
It comes at a time that the center has faced a number of challenges. In 2022 there were bomb threats, as the B.A.R. reported, amid a nationwide backlash to the LGBTQ community. This year, LYRIC beat back some reductions from the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, according to gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who told the B.A.R. that some proposed cuts were restored, along with funds for other nonprofits serving LGBTQ youth, amid the city's budgetary woes.
As the nonprofit tries to raise money, LYRIC was the fiscal beneficiary of Juanita MORE!'s annual Pride party this year, which was a great success, bringing in more than $127,000.
Gael Lala-Chávez, a nonbinary person who is LYRIC's executive director, was pleased with the organization winning in the readers' poll.
"This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, volunteers, and the incredible youth we serve," they stated.
"On behalf of LYRIC, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Bay Area Reporter for honoring us with the 'B.A.R. Bestie' award for Best LGBTQ Nonprofit in San Francisco," Lala-Chávez added. "This acknowledgment inspires us to continue our mission of creating safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for LGBTQ youth in San Francisco. Thank you for believing in our vision and for helping us amplify the voices of youth in our community."
For more information, visit https://lyric.org/.
Runner-up
Transgender Law Center
Best LGBTQ Community Center
San Francisco LGBT Community Center
Opened in 2002, the LGBT community center at 1800 Market Street provides economic and youth services and spaces for myriad gatherings. Last year, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California) visited and discussed his plans for a bipartisan mental health caucus, as the B.A.R. reported at the time. Padilla and several other senators launched the caucus just last week.
Rebecca Rolfe, a lesbian, is the center's longtime executive director. She stated to the B.A.R. that "in today's political landscape, our mission to support LGBTQ+ people facing a myriad of complex challenges has never been more critical."
"At the center, we have witnessed firsthand the direct impact of our programs and services as we continue to serve community members facing various forms of violence and adversity," she continued.
"We are dedicated to providing essential resources and fostering a welcoming environment where we can truly meet community members where they are," Rolfe stated. "We want to express our deepest gratitude to each of you for your unwavering dedication to the SF LGBT center. Your support has been instrumental in helping us make a difference in the lives of thousands of LGBTQ+ people."
For more information, visit https://www.sfcenter.org/.
Runner-up
Oakland LGBTQ Community Center
Best LGBTQ Sports League
San Francisco Gay Softball League
A repeat winner in this category, the San Francisco Gay Softball League celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. Some 30,000 people have participated in the league since its founding over 50 years ago, as the B.A.R. reported last year.
The league is open to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community and allies, and has two divisions, the Open Division and the Women's+ Division.
A victory over a police softball team 50 years ago was big news, and the annual game between the gay and police softball teams helped ease tensions at a time when homosexuality was still illegal. The tradition of the teams playing each other continued through 1978, when the assassination of gay supervisor Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone by former supervisor and police officer Dan White once again soured relationships between the communities. The role the softball league has in breaking down social barriers, however, continues to this day.
The league's inclusive and open attitude has not come without controversy. In particular, three San Francisco players — LaRon Charles, Jon Russ, and Steven Apilado — helped to spearhead changes to the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association's rules to include bisexual and trans players. The case was settled in 2011.
SFGSL Development Director Dawn Dzurilla stated, "as a player and manager, I've found great joy, incredible camaraderie, and love watching everyone play and make friendships. I'm inspired, having witnessed firsthand the dedication and passion of our teams, athletes, sponsors, and fans.
"The SFGSL fosters a dynamic environment where everyone feels welcome, regardless of skill level, and that's probably why the league is so successful and resonates so deeply with players, fans, and sponsors alike," Dzurilla continued.
For more information, go to http://www.sfgsl.org/.
Runner-up
SF Fog Rugby Club
Best Pro Sports Team
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants might be in second to last place in the National League West, but the team is first in the hearts of the B.A.R.'s readers, as it won in the best pro sports team category.
The team, which has won three World Series championships in the last 14 years, plays home games at Oracle Park on the city's waterfront. The pleasant weather, unmatched views of the bay, and food options showcasing the crème de la crème of the city's cuisine make an outing to the ballgame a summertime favorite for Northern Californians of all stripes.
The team is also known for its embrace of the LGBTQ community, having held a Pride recognition event for many years. This year, the commemoration took place June 15 in its game against the Los Angeles Angels. That love has been returned by queer fans, who can be seen sporting Pride-themed jerseys and hats that have been given away at the event from Fisherman's Wharf to Ocean Beach and beyond.
Shana Daum, senior vice president of community relations and communications for the ballclub, thanked the B.A.R. and its readers.
"Thank you to the Bay Area Reporter and all the readers who bestowed this honor on us," she stated. "The LGBTQIA+ community's contributions to sports makes us so proud. We are humbled and extremely grateful for your support of the Giants over many decades."
For more information, go to https://www.mlb.com/giants.
Runner-up
Golden State Warriors
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