Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Drag Is Out At Most Holy Redeemer

For the past few years, the Castro Country Club, a San Francisco gay recovery group, has been holding its annual fall fund raiser in the social hall of the Castro's Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Entertainment was provided by local drag queens. This year, however, that will not be happening because the church has a new, No Drag Queens policy.
The Castro Country Club directors released a statement: "[We] had planned to hold our third annual Harvest Feast on October 20, 2012, at Most Holy Redeemer Church, where we have held this and other events in the past....In previous years, we have had Ivy Drip and Heklina, both well-known entertainers and community fundraisers, serve as emcees of the event, and we felt we could not in good conscience abide by the church's new policy. It is our organization's policy to be inclusive and welcoming to all. Drag queens are no exception. We are currently seeking an alternative venue for the Harvest Feast, which provides an important source of revenue for our annual budget."
Most Holy Redeemer's new pastor, the Reverend Brian Costello, confirmed that drag queen performers and emcees are no longer permitted to participate in events at the church. He says he told the CCC, "That is not going to work under the present circumstances....I said work with me. You can still have the dinner. You can have a regular emcee, but not drag queens on church property."
And this new rule, while enforced by the new pastor at Most Holy Redeemer, actually comes straight from the archdiocese. The new policy was greeted with charges of discrimination, homophobia, and calls for compromise, even reconciliation.
"It's really ridiculous and discriminatory. I mean it's like, who's next?" says Zachary Davenport, for whom the ban is personal. In his drag persona as Laybelline, he has served as emcee for many sobriety-related events held at the church. "What constitutes drag? If we want to get funny, let's talk about the priests. Hello."
Dignity San Francisco offered its take on the new policy at Most Holy Redeemer, and, as Ernest Camisa, treasurer for the Dignity/SF chapter, says, "It looks like the Archdiocese of San Francisco wants to protect its image by not condoning cross-dressers. By doing so they show that they care more for their image than they do for gay people trying to overcome alcohol addiction. Here the church looks like it values its own image more than it does human life. This is not Christian, but callous."
But, callous is what the Catholic Church does best, even in The Castro.

source

9 comments:

  1. MG, I don't know what has come over this new ctholic church. This is not the church of my childhood, which though unenlightened about a whole lot of things was still an advocate of compassion, justice, and the works of mercy.

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  2. this is only 1 of 902384756 reasons I no longer call myself catholic. between the molesting priests, the constant shakedown for money-mo-money, the male-only policy, the pope...don't get me started!

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  3. I'd like to turn them over to Miss Latrice Royale for a good talking to!

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  4. And then they will be really crying when the offerings plates get hit, with lack of tips the queens made during the routines. Less money for great causes, that's just great thinking.

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  5. Really, I think the old gals are just jealous of the fabulosity & don't want any competition when they are trying to work their schtick on the lay-folk...

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  6. Just look at them, they wear frocks themselves!

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  7. " "That is not going to work under the present circumstances....I said work with me. You can still have the dinner. You can have a regular emcee, but not drag queens on church property."

    This edict, coming from a man in a magenta dress? Please! Hypocrite, heal thyself.

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  8. Anonymous11:18 AM

    What the Castro Country Club fails to mention is Fr Brian, once be educated about drag queens and their importance to the LGBT community, decided to let the show go on as originally planned. It was the Archdioced that made him stop all outside one night venues starting immediately. It's sad that, like the Republican Party, the Castro Country Club riles its bass (the LGBT community) by not giving all the information. In addition, Fr. Brian, during the first conversation, asked the CCC rep to come in and discuss it further. When someone does that you meet them and try to explain why it's important to have the venue the way you want it not cop an attitude and close the door of dialog as the CCC did.

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  9. Bob,

    Oh I do have a problem with using the drag queen persona to raise awareness of gay issues. There was a time and place for it, we're past it now. The best way to raise awareness is for every one to come out. Nun drag queens just piss off and alienate people, including me.

    Ron

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