Heklina’s fans and friends reflected on her impact during Sunday’s Easter in the Park and Hunky Jesus costume contest in Dolores Park. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — a nonprofit that serves the queer and trans community — produces the event, now in its 44th year.
As thousands watched a drag cabaret, Sister Hera Sees Candy told KALW that Heklina was a galvanizing force:
"Her loss is hugely felt, as a queer icon, as representation of what’s possible in the world. You want to look like this, you can look like this. And Heklina was doing that before a lot of other people were, and embracing transgender folks, and empowering people to find themselves here in San Francisco."
Heklina was a long-time nightclub owner, and drag show innovator. She sold her stake in the club Oasis in 2020.
Drag artists and activists also remembered Heklina on Saturday during a rally to protest recent anti-drag and anti-trans legislation in more than a dozen states.
