ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
HUNKY JESUS traces the legacy of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who’ve used humor and shock value to expose the forces of bigotry and guilt that chain the human spirit.

SYNOPSIS
HUNKY JESUS is a joyful, lyrical, concert-driven film that weaves together footage from San Francisco’s spectacularly renowned Hunky Jesus Easter Contest with the compelling history of the activist troupe known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. This secular order of queer and transgender nuns have gained fame for using humor and shock value to challenge bigotry.

Founded in the late 1970s by Kenneth Bunch, a gay man from Iowa, the Sisters initially wore retired nun habits to break away from the conformist “Castro Clone” look in San Francisco. Their Easter weekend appearance in 1979 captured the city’s attention and even led to a mention in Armistead Maupin’s SF Chronicle column, “Tales of the City.” More performances in nun-drag followed, and by 1980, the Sisters had established their name and mission statement, focusing on promoting joy and alleviating guilt. As the AIDS crisis unfolded in the 1980s, the Sisters became increasingly politically involved. They organized the first AIDS fundraiser in 1981 and collaborated with medical professionals to create the sex-positive safer sex pamphlet called “Play Fair!”

The Sisters’ signature event, “Easter in the Park,” includes the Hunky Jesus Contest, where participants showcase extravagant costumes with sex appeal and creativity. Over 40 years since its inception, the event has survived multiple controversies and remains an important San Francisco institution.

The documentary will follow Sister Roma and Sister Dana as they try to fight off the ultra-right-wing forces trying to reverse LGBTQ+ advancements while maintaining the order’s legacy, one largely defined by an unyielding commitment to service and activism while also building a space for LGBTQ+ folks who have been outcast by their own communities.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Jennifer M. Kroot
PRODUCER Brian Benson, Gerry Kim
field producer Christine Yoo

The Film Collaborative (TFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs and services for independent filmmakers. TFC’s federal tax ID number is 32-0295081. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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