Serving Up Sisterly Acts Since 1989
We begin with the 1989 ACT-UP demonstration at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as there is some lore of this being the NYC debut of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, as well as an impromptu founding of the NYC Sisters. However individual accounts and intentions vary—as we all remember our past uniquely, e.g.:
“We weren’t planning to found an order. We were doing it for the day. It was theater.” - [Sister Hands On, January 2014];
“The NYC (dis)Order was founded on December 10, 1989 while participating in the famous ACT-UP demonstration at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral ...” - [Sister Hysterectoria, www.nycsisters.org];
... while others point to Y2K as the (dis)Order’s founding—so we defer to the individual for the specifics.
By and large, our humble (dis)Order mark December 10 as our anniversary date, and look to decades of service to countless organizations and individuals in our New York City community to mark the passage of time.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
San Francisco: The Mother House
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence® are a leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns.
We believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty.
Since our first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday, 1979, the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. We use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.
Although the San Francisco House is often referred to as the “Mother House”, the Sisters have no central seat of power and no single ruling body. Each House is an autonomous, unique group with its own Habits, culture, and rules. Just as the San Francisco House is a reflection of the culture that surrounds it, so too is each House a reflection of its own environment.