community OF PERPETUAL THE SISTERS
INDULGENCE PROMULGATING UNIVERSAL JOY, EXPIATING
STIGMATIC GUILT by joel martens
As the title indicates, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have taken on a powerful, global mission, “To promulgate universal joy, and expiate stigmatic guilt.” A decidedly inclusive, loving and far-reaching cannon and it is something members of the order take most seriously. San Diego’s Sister Donatella Soul explained “the call” this way, “It is our mission to go out into the community and spread joy and to help lift the guilt that has been placed on everyone by outside sources. How we do this is as varied as the number of nuns within the worldwide order.” Spreading joy and easing guilt? That works on so many levels, especially in these trying times! The organization made its first appearance in San Francisco
back in 1979, as a response to what many termed the “Castro Clone” and the conformity that it represented. Ken Bunch (Sister Vicious PHB), Fred Brungard (Sister Missionary Position) and Baruch Golden (Sister Roz Erection), in full traditional habit, descended on the streets of San Francisco, creating a model for benevolent joy, humor and community awareness. (Habits Sister Soami DeLux says were borrowed in 1976, from the Mother Superior of a Convent in Cedar Rapids, fetched from the Convent attic for an apocryphal production ofThe Sound of Music, the habits of their dearly deceased sisters.) Sister Soami DeLux went on to explain what she wishes the
San Diego’s chapter, The Asylum of the Tortured Heart is offering a viewing of the filmJOY! Portrait of a Nunat the San Diego Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 27, with a discussion to follow. For more information, go to
sdsisters.org/events.
You can find out more about the Los Angeles order
atlasisters.org. For more information on the order at large, check out the San Francisco “Mother House”
atthesisters.org.
world to know most about the organization. “From the start, we have performed the role of Sacred Clowns in Queer Culture, holding up and supporting our communities with the sanctifying grace of Camp Humor. We have been on the front lines of the AIDS pandemic since the beginning, creating the first, safer sex pamphlet in 1982, “Play Fair” with the guidance of public health nurses Barouk Golden (Sister Roz Erection) and Sister Florence Nightmare (RN/Bobbi Campbell, the world’s first
For a much-expanded version of this story, go
toragemonthly.com.
sisters shawnti fey, soami, clara and bambi. photo by joe balass
18
RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2017
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