Senator Weiner Begging for a Fatwa

The question of the day: Would a Fatwa be issued condemning California State Senator Scott Weiner? The word Fatwa conjures up a 2017 episode of Curbing Your Enthusiasm, where Larry David earned himself condemnation after a public gaff impersonating the Ayatollah. And factually, author Salmon Rushdie earned an actual condemnation to death in 1989 with his criticism of Islam when he penned The Satanic Verses; though cautiously in hiding for nearly twenty-five years, Rushdie was nearly killed just last summer in a stabbing attack on stage in New York.

A Fatwa is defined as a legal pronouncement handed down by an Islamic leader when important issues of Islam are in question; Matters of blasphemy, mockery, homosexuality – all could be grounds for a Fatwa with the harshest condemnation.

Now, the issue: The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (thesisters.org) and the controversy escalated by the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team’s invitation to include The Sisters in their annual Pride Month celebrations. The Sisters are men dressed as nuns, in habit and headpiece, faces painted white, save any beards and facial hair, each making use of witty pseudonyms. And in these getups, they appear in public doing good deeds, in fact their organization is a registered 501c3 nonprofit, founded and based in San Francisco, existing since Easter Sunday, 1979. They do outreach promoting human rights, respect for diversity, they do street performance and activism as well; they provide resources for people in crisis, domestic violence, suicide and mental health, addiction, support Black Lives Matter and trans-affirmation and HIV/AIDS care.

Yet, shockingly The Sisters sponsor an annual Easter Drag Show (“as God intended”), along with a “Hunky Jesus” contest featuring scantily-clad “Foxy Mary” donning “the hunkiest and foxiest Biblical costumes.” “Mary” does a pole dance up and down a cross with Hunky Jesus hanging from it.

So, when word got out of The Sisters’ participation in the LA Dodgers celebrations featuring men dressed as nuns habitually insulting and mocking Catholicism, ofttimes sexualizing faith, Angelinos publicly fumed. The Dodgers ultimately canceled The Sisters inclusion. But just a week later, The Dodgers reneged and reinvited The Sisters once again, who claimed victory.

“We literally minister to our community. We spread joy, we feed the hungry, we provide supplies and care to the unhoused community, we minister to the sick, we support the youth,” @SisterRoma told the L.A. Times. “My existence is not an attack on your faith. The problem is some… pic.twitter.com/IBRS9m35HA

— Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) June 7, 2023

This past week June 5^th 2023, the California State Legislature held a commemoration at the state capitol at the start of Pride Month, including honoring The Sisters, presenting a certificate of appreciation to “Sister Roma,” long-time member of the group. Republicans walked out. Catholics prayed outside the building. Inside, lots of photos were taken. Speeches too, featuring CA State Senator Scott Weiner, himself a member of the LGBTQIA community, who rabidly attacks critics on social media. (Twitter photo above) Weiner, from San Francisco, proudly endorses and defends The Sisters. (Twitter photo below).

Kicking off our Capitol Pride celebration with the amazing Sister Roma & other Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

We’re honoring Sister Roma & other badass LGBTQ community leaders from around California. pic.twitter.com/jfino2hzIb

— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) June 5, 2023

We must ask a very valid question: Why is mocking Christianity acceptable? What if Islamic leaders, Imams, were mocked? Men dressed as women in burkas, performing sexually-charged acts on objects holy to Muslims, or even a parody of the prophet? Surely the outrage would come swiftly, widespread, and harsh. Yet, if you follow Wiener on Twitter, he retreats to the corner when he himself is criticized on social media for his hairbrained social justice initiatives failing his elected constituents, often pulling the “antisemitism” card – fairly often lately – claiming that he’s a target of hate, as he is Jewish.

Why is mocking Catholics fine? Surely, Senator Scott Weiner’s support of denigration of Islamic faith would earn him a condemnation, perhaps even a fatwa. It’s time he opens his eyes.