The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Written and Photographed by CiNava Photography SF, CA
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was founded by Ken Bunch, Fred Brungard, Edmund Garron and Bill Graham in San Francisco California in 1979. Their mission statement — “To promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt. To fulfill this mission statement the organization uses drag and religious imagery to shine a light on intolerances from a sexual, gender, and morality standpoint by spreading unconditional love.
Members of the organization dress in habits and “Ear Brassieres “, not your typical nun attire. Each Sister has their own unique name, flair and style based on their inner beauty, existence and playfulness. This imagery along with the uniqueness of each Sister, allows them spiritually to liberate, breakthrough walls and barriers of people clinging tight to discrimination, complacency, and regret. The awareness and insight they provide is truly invaluable and they do it with their own elegance and technique to captivate their audience. The Sisters educate the community on anything from risks associated with unsafe sex to delivering lectures to students.
By organizing fundraising various human rights campaigns, charity events, street performances and protests, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drive people to action. The organization is known for putting on well-planned elaborate events with thousands of people flocking in participation to providing service in small venues such as hospices. Over 80% of that money raised goes back out into the community [1]. Irrespective of the event they organize, the sisters always bring awareness while continuing to spread love, kindness, cheer and laughter throughout the communities they serve.
The organization has grown throughout the US and has a worldwide footprint with representation in Uruguay, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Scotland, Germany, France, Colombia, Australia and Canada.
To learn more about this incredible selfless organization or to donate to their worthy cause, please visit https://www.thesisters.org .
References: [1] https://www.thesisters.org