Reno gay pride event draws few protesters

Sunday, Aug. 22, 1999 | noon

RENO, Nev. - The habit-wearing drag queens of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were greeted by cheers Saturday as they led Reno's first gay pride parade through the downtown casino area.

About 20 members of the irreverent San Francisco street theater group joined about 150 other marchers who walked four blocks from the landmark Reno Arch to a downtown park for Reno's third annual gay pride festival.

Organizers said about 6,000 people turned out for the event, twice last year's number.

Police reported no major law enforcement problems. Only a handful of protesters and hecklers showed up for the parade.

"I'm so pleased with the way things turned out," said event founder Kaye Crawford. "It shows that Reno is growing up. Reno is getting up to speed with the rest of the country in terms of diversity and tolerance."

Crawford said she had expected more problems at this year's event because of Gov. Kenny Guinn's refusal last week to sign a proclamation for it.

Guinn said he had received complaints about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, whose bawdy performances have angered Roman Catholics.

Group members are mostly gay men who dress up as nuns. They stage events such as a "hunky Jesus" contest and a mock church service in which condoms instead of communion wafers are passed out.

They also raise money for AIDS, gay rights groups and other charities.

The sisters criticized Guinn's refusal to sign the proclamation, saying it was a slap in the face to gays and lesbians.

"I thought it was sad because he didn't bother to learn what we're about," said Sister Risque of the Sissytine Chapel. "That just promotes ignorance. We promote diversity and the idea that it's who you are inside that counts."

Sister Kitty Catalyst said he thinks Guinn's action backfired and led to a larger crowd at Saturday's event.

"We want to thank the governor for all the free publicity," he said. "If nothing else, I hope people walk away from this event knowing they have many options. The closet is no place to live."

But protesters Joseph and Debbie Magee of Reno, members of the nondenominational Church of Jesus Christ Spirit Filled in Sparks, said they think a majority of Reno-area residents supports the governor's action.

Waving a placard that read "Being Gay is Sin," Joseph Magee said: "The Bible is clear that a man shall not lay with another man."

"We love them but not their sin. They're looking for love in all the wrong places," Mrs. Magee added.

The parade also featured some male dancers in skimpy bathing suits and someone in a Tinky Winky costume. Tinky Winky is the purple, purse-toting Teletubby attacked by the Rev. Jerry Falwell as a homosexual role model.