Hunky Jesus Celebration Embraces San Francisco's Queer Spirit

The annual Dolores Park event showcases the city's vibrant LGBTQ+ community and its defiant, joyful response to rising anti-LGBTQ legislation.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:35am by Ben Kaplan

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The Bold Italic's editor-in-chief Saul Sugarman recounts his experience at the 2026 Hunky Jesus contest in San Francisco's Dolores Park, a beloved annual tradition that celebrates the city's queer culture and community. Despite initially feeling out of place, Sugarman describes the event's welcoming atmosphere, creative costumes, and the importance of covering LGBTQ+ stories in the face of increasing anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country.

Why it matters

The Hunky Jesus celebration represents San Francisco's long history of embracing LGBTQ+ identity and expression, even as queer communities face growing threats and discrimination nationwide. Covering this event helps shine a light on the city's vibrant queer culture and the community's resilience in the face of adversity.

The details

The Hunky Jesus contest features creative, humorous, and often risqué costumes that reimagine Jesus in various guises, from "Palestinian Balloon Jesus" to "Renewable Energy Jesus." The event also includes a "Foxy Mary" contest and a bonnet competition. Sugarman notes that despite initially feeling out of place, he was struck by the event's welcoming atmosphere, with friends offering him drinks, sunscreen, and a place to sit.

  • The 2026 Hunky Jesus event took place on Easter weekend in Dolores Park.
  • The Bold Italic has covered the Hunky Jesus event for at least the past three years.

The players

Saul Sugarman

The editor-in-chief and owner of The Bold Italic, a not-for-profit media organization that publishes first-person perspectives about San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Sister Roma

A prominent drag performer and LGBTQ+ activist who commented on one of the Hunky Jesus contestants.

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What they’re saying

“You must have quite the pair of lungs on you!”

— Sister Roma, Drag performer and LGBTQ+ activist

What’s next

The Bold Italic will continue to cover LGBTQ+ events and issues in San Francisco, including the upcoming LGBT Center Soirée 2026 that the publication is sponsoring.

The takeaway

The Hunky Jesus celebration represents San Francisco's enduring embrace of queer culture and community, even as LGBTQ+ people face increasing threats and discrimination across the country. By covering events like this, The Bold Italic aims to amplify the voices and experiences of the city's vibrant LGBTQ+ population.