The first slipper has dropped in San Francisco. Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, whose elevation to the See of St. Francis was announced July 27, has sent down word that drag queens will no longer be permitted to provide the entertainment for the Castro Social Club's annual fundraising dinner at the parish hall of Holy Redeemer Church. In fact, the new policy is no drag queens on church property altogether.
Now I know what you're thinking. This is part of the culture war agenda of a guy who signed the Manhattan Declaration, led the Catholic charge against Proposition 8, and now heads the USCCB's Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage.
Au contraire. All +Cordileone wants to do is draw an appropriate distinction between lay folk and clerics in ecclesiastical environs. The bishop, who seems to enjoy dressing up himself from time to time, just wants to restrict the practice to those in Holy Orders. These days, that should provide entertainment enough for the boys in the Castro.
H.(Bart) Vincelette | Aug 19, 2012 | 7:29am
For centuries women’s parts had to be filled by men, Thus, men playing female parts became an established tradition. female impersonation is not an indicator of sexual orientation, which would obviously be the overriding concern of the church, which had been the reason female parts in theater had to be filled by men. Women were forbidden on stage.