HOW CAN YOU NOT love a man in an “ear brassiere”? That’s the other name that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence use for their headpieces, or wimples, worn along with traditional and often non-traditional habits, riotous makeup and a spirit of boisterous and good-humored community service. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, founded in San Francisco in 1979, dress in convent-inspired drag, but do serious work; their mission is to “expiate guilt, promulgate joy, and serve the community.”
As the order’s website explains, “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 believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty and we use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.” And though many of the Sisters are gay men, the group is open to, and inclusive of, all.
Mostly, they seem to have a riotous good time in the process. There are orders of the Sisters throughout the world. Oh, how I wish I could take my kids to their Halloween Monster Mash. I hope if we have sisters in San Francisco who attend, they’ll send a full report. And in the meantime, to the Sisters: Keep up the good work. The world needs help with a dash of humor now more than ever.
(Image above by David Shankbone of two of the New York City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.)
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Great post, Page! And BRAVO to our Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, blessing our planet with their creative humanity.
My son was born in February and this is his first Halloween. We live next to the Castro and attended the Monster Mash which was a lot of fun! I keep a blog for family and I blogged about it here: http://theblossomfamily.blogspot.com/2009/11/jacks-first-halloween.html