new thread
Apologies in advance to anyone who might find this thread a bit controversial or offensive. That is not my intent; but to anyone here who might be deeply religious and not have a sense of humor about it, my suggestion would be to read no further and simply skip over this post...
But, to anyone else who might be interested in ever attending a wack-o San Francisco outdoor event, then please read on!
Every Easter Sunday a group of outlandish-looking men wearing nun-like outfits host a series of oddball competitions, leading up to the grande finale called, "Hunky Jesus" contest. It's actually a fund-raiser that donates $$ to a variety of local charities; so it's not quite as bad as it at first might sound. There's also some live music and guest speakers /comedians, etc. throughout the day; but most people in attendance look forward to the silly contests. The event is held every year on Easter Sunday, usually starting around noon (although best to set up a picnic blanket on the lawn a bit before that, for a good seat with the best view), at San Francisco's Dolores Park, the stage being located close to the corner of 18th & Dolores Streets.
Not far from the park is a local Catholic church that has tried for years to put a stop to this event, because the men who dress up in outlandish nun outfits are called, "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" -- which for obvious reasons, as you can well imagine, they don't find very funny...
For those who think they WOULD find this event fun & entertaining, however, it would make a great longhair meet-up destination for anybody who lives near enough in Northern CA, or planning on visiting SF this spring around Easter time.
I have only been to this event once -- in '04, with my friend Christopher who first told me about it, plus 2 other dance friends that joined us for a picnic on the grass. Unfortunately I also had another conflict that day, so had to leave early and never saw the hunky jesus contest; but Chris told me that an 8 year old girl won that year -- go figure!
In any case, although I usually work on weekends, I'm going to try to get Easter Sunday off this year... I'm long overdue in coming back to see this event -- and what better year than 2012 to go see it (LOL)!!
- Ken
Worryingly(!), it sounds like exactly the sort of event I'd love! Pity there isn't something like that near me.
Damon
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LOL, well, the next best thing I guess would be to watch this past spring's YouTube video of the event -- which I just saw yesterday myself for the first time... it's definitely quite outlandish, even a bit shocking for me at times; but living in this city for over 30 years now, I've seen plenty of other similar "shocking" sights before, so after awhile I've learned to just enjoy it as the kind of over-the-top humor that it's meant to be...
Just go to Google / YouTube and type in, "Hunky Jesu Contest 2011", or something similar to that. The version I watched I think was posted by a guy named, "Chris the sexy atheist" -- although maybe there's no spaces between the words... Enjoy!!
- Ken
Thanks, Ken. I saw some YouTube clips as you suggested. Yes, the humour is "kind of over-the-top" (I generally prefer something a bit more dry and subtle) but hey, sometimes it's fun just to be silly. It certainly looks like a fun event and I LOVE that California sunshine!
Damon
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Hi Ken, a longhair meet at the Hunky Jesus contest venue sounds like a plan, if it is not raining. Keep me posted.
Scott
Hi Scott,
I will definitely keep you posted -- especially if I can get the whole day off from work that day. I just responded to Damon's reply, below yours, letting him know that he can watch last spring's contest on YouTube... it's quite shocking, but also made me laugh pretty hard -- if you can stomach the outlandishness of the humor, I imagine you'll enjoy seeing it, too!!
- Ken
Hi Ken, we have something like it in Australia too. it happens once a year in Sydney and there is a group there called Sisters of Perpetual indulgence. I have yet to see any parody of Muslims! Somehow I just don't think the gay community would have the balls for that just yet. Islamist fundamental nutcases kill and execute gays and are the natural enemy of longhairs. Their religious police force haircuts on guys who have hair over the ears. In general Christians do not do this anymore. Why don't you guys target the muslims?
Duncan
Hi there Duncan,
Well, in answer to your question above, it's not quite my personal style to "target" anyone -- although I have a definite revulsion to bigotry and self-righteousness in general, no doubt about that!
"Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" is exactly the same name of the group of guys that we have here in SF, too. Although supposedly comprised of mostly gay men, I've heard that there have occasionally been some strait men that are a part of that group as well. One winter I had the honor of being scheduled to teach rose-pruning to the Sisters in SF's Castro District's Pink Triangle Park, but unfortunately came down with a cold, so somebody else had to volunteer for that job instead of me; but it cracked me up to try to imagine them all working in a muddy garden with thorny plants, trying to learn the art of winter-pruning while being dressed in their faux nun outfits (LOL)....
I think San Franciscans and Australians have a very similar sense of humor (or, should I spell it, "humour?" - LOL) -- a bit sacreligious, and definitely leaning more towards the naughty side of life!
- Ken
Hi Ken and Duncan
As a Christian I have a devout hatred of bigotry too. I agree that the radical muslims are the worst - they kill and hate everything including their own hair. I worked with several men from Iran. None of them ever had any problem with my hair, except one. He questioned it ... then he explained that in the schools there, teachers/administrators literally kept rulers with them. They were not allowed to even grow hair more than about 1.5 inches on top. This is how insane they are. However, I explained the health consequences to him and eventually he grew it out a little (at the time he was doing the ugly buzzard). Anytime any society resorts to head shearing, that means they lost heart. In the Bible, "hair" is related to "life." Cutting and shaving is nearly always equated with "death" and "destruction." And this "death" and "destruction" is what radical Islam is all about. Nearly all nations were founded by long hairs, they had heart. The leaders (even military leaders) went after men's hearts, not their hair. Pic of Jesus attached, a leader with true heart.
If an historical Jesus even existed, he most certainly was not a fair-skinned, long-haired European. The image above is how he probably would have looked, according to forensic archaeologists.
--Val
And Christians in Asia nearly always portray Jesus as having narrow eyes and fair skin and black hair. So what?
It's a cultural variation that is supported in the name of nurturing comfort in the religion, not a conspiracy started by Whitey. What would be the point in getting mad at an African who thinks Buddha was Black?
Who's "mad?" I just think it's silly that, just because people want to look a certain way, they need to pretend their hero also looked that way. This is nothing new. As for "nurturing comfort in the religion," this is also known as "propaganda." It's about conquering, subverting, and converting, not feeling warm and fuzzy inside. A belief system should be able to thrive based on its own merits, supported by historical and scientific fact. Of course, in the case of Christianity and any other worship-based religion, this is impossible, as they continue to exist DESPITE contradictory historical and scientific fact.
--Val
Of course, in the case of Christianity and any other worship-based religion, this is impossible, as they continue to exist DESPITE contradictory historical and scientific fact.
I don't want to talk about religion but I do like science.
You should keep in mind that todays "scientific fact" is somtimes proven fales by tomorrows scientific fact.
I claim to be 100% shure of nothing, thats why if one day in the distant future science proves there is a god, I wont be 100% surprised...I might be in alot of trouble though...LOL
The cool thing about scientists is that, more than any other group, when new information is presented that proves old ways of thinking to be false, they celebrate and embrace the new knowledge. "Religionists," on the other hand, tend to ignore or discount new information, instead clinging to the comfort of long-held superstitions and myths.
--Val
I hear you val and get it.
I think of science and religion as two seperate things. I would not use science to prove or disprove if there is a god or as basis for why somone sould or should not believe in god. I also don't think religion should belittle the need and value of scientific discoverys.
If there is a god, for all I know he/she may have built in the " A fish don't know he's wet" clause, just to keep us bussy...Ha..Ha
Some of the contestants have long hair, but some of them are sporting thrift store wigs under their crowns of thorns. The emphasis seems to be on the hunky rather than the Jesus.
I'd hazard a guess and say out of the three in Jesus impersonators in the photos the guy on the far left is wearing the wig whereas the black man and guy to the right are the real deal long hairs.
Gives some meaning to that song that had the lyrics "I'm too sexy for my shirt" doesn't it.
Now to get back into a fighting fitness shape! My resolution for 2012. That fat has too go! (sigh)
Duncan