The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

What's black and white and red all over? Why, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, of course, with their white "ear brassieres," black nuns' habits and colorful veils (which only fully professed Sisters are allowed to wear). These in-your-face individuals in flowing black robes (or dresses or leather chaps or maybe just a thong), sparkles and whiteface are fierce, fabulous, funny, enormously creative, sometimes a little bit scary and impossible to miss as they carry out their mission of raising money for good causes and ridding the LGBT community of guilt. ("No more guilt!")

Since the original four sisters first appeared in San Francisco on Easter Sunday 1979 (one of them carrying a machine gun), they have grown into a global phenomenon, with chapters on every continent except Antarctica. ("Already too many penguins," says their website.) They take vows against chastity and poverty, have names like Sister Titty Titty Gang Bang and Sister Castrata Stigmata Banana Fanna Fo Fata and have gotten themselves on the pope's list of heretics -- all the while raising crucial funds for a wide range of charities that benefit the LGBT community, like the AIDS Emergency Fund and GLAAD.

Why would anyone put so much time and energy into raising money to help others? Why would they be willing to appear in public in outrageous costumes, where they could become a target? And what's with the whiteface? I sat down with Sister Edith Morecock of Seattle's Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence chapter to learn what being a sister is all about.

 Is Sister Edith you, or is she an alter ego?

She started as an absolute and separate alter ego. Being in the whiteface is a huge defense, because people can't see you blush. You can get away with things that you couldn't in boy mode. It transforms you into being a much more open, bold and fun-loving person than you were before.

Is she naughtier than you?

Oh, very much so. [Laughter.] Without a doubt.

Is being in the habit drag?

Some sisters say no, but I say absolutely. I was at a leather event at a leather bar the other night, and everyone was in harnesses, and that was drag to me, too. It's all about costuming, and becoming someone else. It's an escape. It lets you be someone completely different than who you are day to day.

So you have had to learn how to make costumes, and sew?

You don't have to, although I just got a sewing machine as a gift, and yes, I am getting better at it. We're usually not real slim girls, so when we go out and find something at a Value Village or a Goodwill (because making all the costumes can get really expensive), we often find something that is made for a small woman, so we'll cut it down the back and add some elastic.

 What do the sisters wear under their habits?

When I am out in my kilt and harness, nothing. [Laughs] If I'm out in a black dress to a formal event -- yes, I wear underwear. Some sisters wear padding under their habits; I don't.

Novices are asked to host an event as part of their training -- often a fundraising event. When I was a novice, and in sluttier Sister Edith mode, I hosted a nUn'derWear party at a local bar, when over 110 people wore only their underwear. It was awesome.

Catholic nuns are often on their knees in prayer. Is there any occasion when a sister might be on her knees?

Oh, I have knee pads. [Laughs]

Oh, so that's where your padding went.

Yes. [More laughter.] Well, it depends on the event. I usually get on my knees when I am selling Jell-O shots. Also, we sell raffle tickets. The best way to inspire a sale is to do what we call "an inseam." You start at the upper inseam, the crotch area, and roll the raffle ticket down the inside of the guy's leg. The more attention you pay to that upper area, the more tickets you sell.

 When I told my brother, who is straight, that I was doing this interview, he said, "Oh, I love the sisters!" Why do you think the sisters are so popular in both the gay and straight communities?

The shock factor -- we wear wild costumes, we're in the clown whiteface and because we typically wear platform boots, we are about seven feet tall. We demand -- and we get -- a lot of attention, both good and bad. People either love us or they absolutely hate us.

Do the people who hate you think you are making a mockery of religion?

Yes. There was a huge uproar recently about two sisters in San Francisco who took Holy Communion while they were 'in face.' The religious right went crazy, not realizing that those two sisters go to that church regularly [in everyday attire] and are there all the time. People think we're mocking nuns, but we're not. We're celebrating them.

Do you ever feel physically threatened when you're out in costume?

Well, I have a background in martial arts, so I'm pretty comfortable that I can take care of myself. But we can get some really negative reactions from people who don't understand what we're doing, so there can be that threat.

 How long did it take for you to become a sister?

At first I thought it was just going to involve a couple of makeup classes and then off you go. I really had no idea. It took about 18 months for me to be an Aspirant [someone who is just interested] to a Postulant to a Novice to a Fully-Professed sister.

We typically use two terms to delineate a 'fully-fledged' nun. Fully Professed (FP's) are also known as Black Veils (although FP's can wear any color veil). Novices wear all-white veils. Both FP's and novices can (and do) wear 'lips' and speak to our community. Novices can only speak about their journey and do not speak for the house.

It was a lot more involved than I ever expected, and I certainly never knew it would be so much about developing myself as a person.

How has being a sister changed you?

When I first became a sister, I asked Sister Flora from San Francisco how she had changed over the years. She said that her sister [personality] was originally very naughty and nasty, whereas in boy mode he was very shy, but over time the two selves melded. We have seen that a lot with the sisters -- the people who are shy in boy mode become much more fun-loving. And eventually it happened to me.

 What should people do who want to support the sisters?

We have a ton of volunteer opportunities, from helping us sell Jell-O shots in the bars to putting together condom packages. Or they could just attend bingo or any other sister event.

It's addictive. I've seen so many people say, 'I want to help, but I don't want to become a sister,' and then within two years, they've started their own journey and have become an FP.

What do the sisters most want to change in the world?

Acceptance of the LGBT community. That's our primary mission. But we also do a lot of safer sex outreach -- to everyone, even straight people. And we do a lot of work with gay youth: If we can tag them early, they have so much less learned guilt and less [emotional] issues when they become adults.

I myself didn't come out until I was 36, and it was so hard. I said, "Oh, my God, how am I going to tell my family? How am I going to tell my wife, whom I now have to divorce?" We are not seeing that so much with youth these days -- there is so much more acceptance, and that's what the sisters stand for. We want to get people to understand that: No more guilt!

To learn more about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence or to attend a sisters' event, visit The Abbey.org for the Seattle chapter or thesisters.org for the San Francisco chapter; each site has links to all the chapters around the world.

By guest author Elsa Dixon

Comments

[DJ Harmonix]

Amen Edith!

Every sister I have ever met from so many chapters across the country, has been such a wonderful person. The Sisters do a fantastic job in the communities and I am glad to support and be supported by them!

Harmonix