Roaming with Roma – Over the Rainbow

Dear Reader, may I call you friend? You know what, I’m going to go ahead and do that. Now that we are friends, I have to tell you a secret. Of course, as my friend, I trust you will not betray my confidence. If I hear from one person that you blabbed about what I’m going to share I swear I will lock you in a room with Jackie Beat and ask her to tell you all about how she’s Vegan now. Nobody wants that – trust me. 

Anyway… back to my secret. I’ve been keeping this inside for a very long time, but I feel that since it’s Pride, I should come clean: I am not a fan of the rainbow. 

There, I said it. I’ll wait while that sinks in. I know it’s a shocking revelation and a lot to digest, especially in a happy-go-lucky column between friends. But girl, let’s be honest. Have you ever seen a rainbow shirt, dress, jacket, costume, or any rainbow fabric that didn’t make your eyes bleed? Now that it’s June, designers and websites will pull out the rainbow gradient and apply it to their logos, signage, site backgrounds, ads, and banners. Retailers will move their rainbow goods into the front window to appeal to the LGBTQ+ consumer to show their “Pride.” Nothing says “I’m an ally” like rainbow phone cases, water bottles, and butt plugs, right? Worst of all, naive homosexuals, unsuspecting theys and thems, well-meaning allies, and the occasional dog, will prance and parade around wearing the most pathetic and ratchet rainbow product of all time: the rainbow feather boa. I KNOW feather boas and those Party City rainbow chicken feather boas are… not… it! They bleed and worse, they molt so fast that by the end of the night, you’re left with a string and about four or five feathers hanging on for dear life. It’s embarrassing.

Now don’t get it twisted. I like actual rainbows. I’m not a monster. I also like the rainbow flag. I prefer the version with the trans/POC triangle that has been in vogue for a few years now. I love the flag for many reasons. I love the fact that the original rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in San Francisco in 1978. What some of you may not know is that Gilbert went on to become Sister Chanel 2001 in the early ‘80s with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. She came and went before my time in the Order, but we eventually did get to know each other, and Gilbert was lovely. 

I love the flag because it represents our community. Much like the flag we are colorful and bold, and many of you like to hang off the end of a long pole (you know who you are.) 

But the main reason I love our rainbow flag is that so many people hate it. I mean these homophobes and conservative Christians are straight-up triggered by our colorful symbol of LGBTQ pride. There are entire countries where the rainbow flag is banned. There are right-wing republican politicians here in America who want to ban the rainbow flag from classrooms. Of course, we all know they don’t hate the flag, they hate us. These are the same people who want to ban drag and cancel pride. They want to ban books and erase all queer and trans people from history. They want to criminalize and eradicate us. I know that sounds dramatic, but they literally would like anyone who is not a cis/hetero to cease to exist. 

Of course, we know that is impossible. Trans, Queer, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex, Nonbinary, and Gender Non-conforming humans have always been here. Like literally from the beginning of time. And we will always be here, like literally until the end of time. So, when they see our Pride Flag, with its beautiful rainbow colors, they are reminded that we are here, and we are not going anywhere. Our flag reminds people that we are not afraid, we are living out loud and proud. 

You know what, I just changed my mind. I LOVE THE RAINBOW. I want to see more rainbow clothing, costumes, and accessories. I encourage graphic designers to break out the rainbow gradient and paint the world with our colors. I applaud brick-and-mortar and online retailers who rainbow-fy their logos and push their rainbow products to the front of their stores and onto their landing pages. Bring on the rainbow onesies, cat toys, notebooks, tennis shoes, umbrellas, socks, gummy bears… I love ALL OF IT! I want to see more rainbows everywhere! 

Happy Pride everyone, let your Rainbow Flag fly!

Love, Sister Roma 

PS – I still hate those cheap rainbow feather boas. Sorry not sorry, Party City.

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Meet new GED columnist Sister Roma – The Most Photographed Nun In the World™️

For more than three decades Sister Roma has been one of the most outspoken and globally recognized members of San Francisco’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. From fighting on the front lines in the war against HIV/AIDS to organizing DRAG UP! FIGHT BACK!, a march and rally protesting anti-queer, anti-drag, and anti-trans legislation, Roma has dedicated more than half her life to community service, activism, and fundraising. But don’t get it twisted, this Sister is no Saint! Her colorful wit and sharp tongue have made Roma one of San Francisco’s favorite entertainers and emcees. She’s a frequent guest on television, radio, and podcasts and can be found hosting the main stages of SF Pride, Folsom Street Fair, and Easter in the Park, to name a few. Today Roma is blessed to travel the globe as an LGBTQ ambassador and event host, striving to uphold her Sisterly vows to expiate stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy. She is thrilled to join the wonderful staff of GED Magazine and share this space with her longtime friend, the Queen of Palm Springs, Ethylina Canne.