"It's a perilous time for queer people right now. Texas is cranking out anti-trans bills like raffle tickets; Trump is policing gender rights; and Hungary just banned Pride. So you probably thought we'd lay low and start a group chat about moving to Canada. Instead we're doing what we always do in times of repression: dressing up, showing out, and turning defiance into a damn runway."
"I am not a joiner despite some evidence to the contrary. I often look like a drag queen dressed me with a grudge and unlimited rhinestones. But my ideal Friday night involves hand-stitching beads and rewatching Gilmore Girls for the 47th time, and I've been sober for more than six years. Crowds like this one do not interest me, even though I was once labeled the "bad circuit party guy" - "
"Hunky Jesus - as it turns out - was just what I needed. Here is a crowd that will hand you sunscreen, fix your lash, and call you gorgeous in the same breath. They came to serve lewks and affirm life, and maybe scream a little for Sexy Satan. And scream we did, just as much for some amazing DIY couture as for trans rights. What should have been a goofy day in the sun ended up feeling a lot more sacred; here was queer chuch, a protest, and fashion week all rolled into one. It's everything Pride should be when it's not oversaturated with commercial sponsors. And of course Hunky Jesus? He saved."
Rising anti-trans legislation and global attacks on Pride prompted a defiant, celebratory response at Hunky Jesus. Attendees combined camp, DIY couture, and activism to affirm life and trans rights. The gathering emphasized mutual care and visible support, with people offering sunscreen, lash fixes, and compliments while also performing and protesting. Returning hosts and community leaders appeared alongside grassroots participants. What began as a playful outdoor event became a sacred-feeling mix of churchlike ritual, runway spectacle, and protest. The event resisted commercialized Pride and foregrounded joy, solidarity, and creative resistance in a perilous political moment.
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