The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was born in San Francisco on Easter Sunday in 1979. At that time a few people had dressed up in genuine nun’s habits and called themselves Mother Abess, Sister Boom-Boom, Sister Missionary Position and Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch. Sister Vicious is recognised as the founder of the first ever order in San Francisco.

The actions of these four people triggered a reaction in the gay community. It was precisely this reaction that helped to bond together the newly formed militant group known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

At the outset the sisters campaigned for gay, transvestite and transgender rights and were the first to campaign for Aids awareness in the 1980’s. However, over the course of time the sisters recognised a need to support community groups that they were not directly involved with, worldwide.

In the years to follow some missionary sisters began to spread the word in other countries. For example, some sisters travelled to Australia, Germany and UK.  It was important that whilst visiting these countries and introducing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, they maintained some mutually agreed objectives. The objectives included gay visibility (i.e. physically out in person), Aids prevention in the spirit of reciprocal tolerance, negation of discrimination and expiration of stigmatic guilt, peace, love and universal joy.

As a result of the four founding sister’s hard work, they were each excommunicated from the Vatican. It is noteworthy to add that The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are listed within the book of Heresies