Hunky Jesus

A film by Jennifer Kroot

Hunky Jesus is a vibrant, concert‑driven documentary celebrating the San Francisco Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence—an iconic, global order of queer and trans “nuns” who confront guilt, shame, and exclusion with joy, irreverence, and radical compassion. Filmed with a theatrical eye and inspired by the observational spirit of the Maysles Brothers and the whimsical surrealism of Fellini, the film interweaves the 2023 Hunky Jesus competition with intimate interviews, Monty Python‑esque animation, and rare archival footage. Against a backdrop of rising drag panic and religious‑right hostility, the Sisters emerge as cultural rockstars: dazzling performers, spiritual renegades, and community caretakers who redefine what liberation and belonging can look like.

Director Jennifer M. Kroot, whose acclaimed documentaries The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin, To Be Takei, and It Came From Kuchar premiered at festivals including SXSW and Sundance, brings her signature blend of curiosity, empathy, and cinematic flair to the story. A Bay Area native and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Kroot captures the Sisters in full drag and full humanity, revealing the personal histories, vulnerabilities, and resilience behind their larger‑than‑life personas. With dramatic chapel‑lit interviews, backstage moments, and the emotional pulse of a community that found spirituality after exclusion, Hunky Jesus offers a compassionate, exuberant portrait of queer joy and the power of chosen family.

Director: Jennifer Kroot
Producers: Brian Benson, Gerry Kim
Principal Cast: Honey Mahogany, Sister Roma
Narrator: George Takei