Gay Easter events around the world including San Francisco’s ‘Hunky Jesus’ contest
Easter LGBTQ+ events take place around the globe. (BFI Flare)
For the LGBTQ+ community, Easter – like many other holidays, to be fair – is a perfect opportunity to dress up, or strip down, and have fun.
Easter may be synonymous with traditional religious celebration, but around the world, the holiday is also an opportunity to celebrate queer creativity, uniqueness and togetherness.
Here are just a few of the LGBTQ+ events happening this Easter weekend:
New Orleans Gay Easter Parade
Since 2000, New Orleans’ Gay Easter Parade has been a showcase of glitz and glamour. A beacon of fashion and creativity, the parade sees the LGBTQ+ community come out en masse dressed to the nines.
From Easter hats to spring tuxedos to pastel gowns, the carnival-style Gay Easter Parade sees walking groups and convertibles travel through the French Quarter neighbourhood.
“The parade is catered toward families and attendees of all ages, whether they’re LGBTQ-identifying or allies,” the event listing notes.
All the proceeds raised go towards The Official Gay Easter Parade and Food for Friends.
The Gay Easter Parade in New Orleans takes place on Sunday (5 April) from 4:30 to 7pm. Find out more here.
San Francisco’s Hunky Jesus Contest
Every Easter, a park in San Francisco becomes the base for the Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary competition. The event is run by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a queer order of nuns.
Attendees are invited to compete in the Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary categories, bringing their own artistic and thematic uniqueness to Jesus and Mary.
As well as these competitions, the event will feature drag performances, live music and an Easter Bonnet contest. Sister Roma, Peaches Christ, and Honey Mahogany will be the glamorous hosts.
The event is also the subject of a documentary that screened at the 2026 BFI Flare. PinkNews caught up with one of the documentary’s stars and competition host, Honey Mahogany, earlier this year.
The Sisters Easter Celebration at Dolores Park, San Francisco, is on Sunday (5 April), 10 am to 4pm. Find out more here.
Berlin’s Easter Bear Dance
In Berlin, the Easter Bear Dance has been running for over 10 years. The event revolves around a central party for Bear types.
The event page states that the dance “invites all strong, rugged men and their admirers to a sexy night full of beats, brotherhood, and body-positive vibes.”
The dance event will host “some of the hottest DJs in the bear community, both in Germany and internationally.” Currently, Rubi, DJ Axelay, VJ Alkis are slated to perform.
The event takes place in SO 36, a music club on Oranienstraße near Heinrichplatz. The club also advertises spaces, including a darkroom and smokers’ lounge.
Berlin’s Easter Bear Dance takes place on Friday (3 April) and starts from 10pm. Find out more here.
Sitges Gay Easter
Sitges, a LGBTQ+ friendly town just along the coast from Barcelona, hosts a weekend of traditional events and Easter-themed gay parties.
An influx of tourists descends on the town for the warm weather and queer Easter celebrations. The weekend also marks the reopening of the town’s gay bars and clubs for the spring/summer season.
From Good Friday parades to traditional Palm Sunday events, there’s something for everybody at Sitges Gay Easter events.
Find out more about Sitges’ Gay Easter here.
