take that

Lawmakers honor a drag nun for Pride Month and the GOP is melting down again

By · Updated on June 7, 2023
Sister Roma posing at an event

Republicans can’t stop throwing hissy fits over the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

This week, the outrage cycle made its way to the California State House, where the legislature’s LGBTQ+ caucus invited one of the drag group’s members, Sister Roma, to commemorate the start of Pride Month.

Gay state senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, extended the invitation. On Monday, Republicans fled the chamber when Sister Roma stepped up to the microphone and started to speak. Some Catholics and evangelical Christians protested the event as well.

“I think my Republican colleagues are caricaturing her,” said Wiener, via The Sacramento Bee. “If they really took the time to get to know her, they’d understand why I nominated her for this honor.”

When Roma did speak, nearly everyone in the chamber awarded her with a standing ovation. “I was very emotional,” she said. “I came this close to crying, and if this makeup runs, I’m done.”

Last month, the Los Angeles Dodgers came under fire for inviting the Sisters to their annual Pride Night on June 16. Florida Senator Marc Rubio had a public meltdown, and the president of the Catholic League authored a whiny letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.

For a brief moment, the Dodgers capitulated to the performative outrage, and disinvited the Sisters. They re-invited the Sisters a few days later, after multiple other LGBTQ+ organizations announced they were pulling out of the event.

Not to be outdone, notorious homophobe–and 2024 GOP presidential hopeful–Mike Pence said recently he’s “deeply offended” the Dodgers re-invited the Sisters. (We’re not sure why Pence cares so much, considering he’s from Indiana, but nonetheless…)

Founded in San Francisco in 1977, the Sisters use humor and religious imagery to highlight anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. Republicans, and multiple players on the Dodgers, including star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, wrongly assert they’re denigrating Catholicism.

“Sister Roma is one of the very best community leaders in San Francisco. She does amazing work,” said Wiener, per ABC 7.

To illustrate the Republicans’ vapid backlash, Democratic senator Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton introduced the Pride resolution and said she’s a “proud Catholic.”

In addition to Sister Roma, 14 other guests were invited by the LGBTQ+ caucus as the Senate passed resolutions to acknowledge Pride Month, including tennis legend Billie Jean King and filmmaker Eugene Lee Yang.

As it turns out, the right-wing opposition to the Sisters is only making them more well-known. They have now been introduced to a whole new generation of LGBTQ+ people.

Well done!

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