CA Dems honor anti-Catholic drag queen, GOP reacts.

California Democrats Honor Anti-Catholic Drag Group Member Despite Backlash

Despite backlash over the Los Angeles Dodgers also honoring the anti-Catholic drag group, California Democrats on Monday honored a member of the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.” The California State Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus honored Michael Williams, a member of the “Sisters” who goes by “Sister Roma” and uses “she/her” pronouns.

The “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” is an organization of men who dress in drag queen versions of Catholic religious habits and claim to have a “ministry,” according to its website.

Williams received a standing ovation in both chambers of California’s legislature, but some Republicans walked off the floors in protest. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said he would “not celebrate those who engage in religious bigotry or attempt to co-opt our faith into something it is not.”

Republicans’ Request Denied

Republicans in the California Senate previously said they had “profound concerns” about honoring “Sister Roma” and wrote to formally request the Democrats withdraw his invitation to the Senate floor, but to no avail.

“Were this group to denigrate any other faith, we are certain the Senate would not extend this invitation,” the California Senate Republican Caucus wrote in their Thursday letter to the Senate president, Democratic state Senator Toni Atkins.

I continue to stand with the @SFSisters, who do incredibly impactful work for the the #LGBTQ+ community. I look forward to welcoming @SisterRoma to the Capitol as one of the @CALGBT Caucus #PrideMonth honorees. pic.twitter.com/DeunKcKfmj

— Senator Toni Atkins (@SenToniAtkins) June 2, 2023

Atkins denied the Republicans’ request, saying that “in the end, faith is stronger than any parody could possibly be.”

Controversial Honoree

Williams – or “Sister Roma” – was nominated by state Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat. In 2020, Wiener sponsored a law Governor Gavin Newsom signed that says adults who have oral or anal sex with a child ten years younger than them may not have to register as sex offenders, leaving that decision to a judge. The law supposedly addressed discrimination against LGBT people.

“For more than three decades, Sister Roma has been one of the most outspoken and globally recognized members of San Francisco’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” the caucus said in an announcement about its 2023 “Pride Honorees.”

The legislative caucus said Williams has fought “on the front lines” of the war against HIV/AIDS and “dedicated more than half her life to community service, activism and fundraising.”

Mockery of Catholic Faith

The “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” group also mocks the process of becoming a Catholic nun by having members become a postulant, then a novice, and finally a fully professed “sister” with a black veil. One of the group’s founders originally used old habits used by real Catholic nuns.

“Go forth and sin some more!” is the group’s motto.

Back in 2007, members of the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” tricked the archbishop of San Francisco into giving them the Eucharist so they could defile it. On Easter this year, the group put on a “Jesus and Mary-themed striptease” that involved a performer “writhing upside down on a large wooden cross.” They also had shirtless men compete to be crowned the “hunkiest” Jesus.

“These are just a few examples of the SPI’s vile and diabolical actions which go far beyond parody or satire – they are blasphemous and deeply offensive to Christians everywhere,” CatholicVote, a Catholic nonprofit, wrote in a letter to the Dodgers protesting the drag group’s award.

Last month during the Dodgers controversy, the California LGBTQ Caucus released a statement slamming the team.

“It is truly disappointing the Los Angeles Dodgers have caved to pressure from mostly out-of-state conservative organizations and Florida Senator Marco Rubio to remove the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from its upcoming LGBTQ+ Pride Night,” the caucus said.

“They are not an anti-Catholic group,” the lawmakers said. “Pride Month is about supporting and uplifting every member of the LGBTQ+ community, not just when it’s easy and not when it’s not controversial. If you can’t support all queer people, don’t pretend to support any of them.”