When I first moved to San Francisco in 1987 there was a pall over the city. AIDS was racing through the gay community and decimating it indiscriminately. The Bay Area Reporter, the local weekly newspaper devoted to the queer community, consistently had page after page of obituaries showing young vibrant faces that had been cut down in the prime of their life. Out of this nightmare many wonderful groups and organizations swung into action to do whatever they could to help. One of the earliest and most unique groups to address the crisis was the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
From Wikipedia:
In 1982, Sister Florence Nightmare, RN (early AIDS activist and registered nurse Bobbi Campbell) and Sister Roz Erection (also a nurse) joined with a team of Sisters and medical professionals to create "Play Fair!", the first safer sex pamphlet to use plain language, practical advice and humor, and considered by one of the founders to be "one of the Order's greatest achievement in community education and support".
Like the many newly arrived young gay people before me, I was drawn to the Castro. This is where I first came to know and love the Sisters and to understand that underneath their irreverence beat activist hearts of sheer gold.
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The Sisters first appeared on the scene in the Castro in San Francisco in 1979. I could now go into a long slog through the history of their organization. However, I couldn't do it any more justice than the Sisters themselves have done on their home page. I encourage you to follow the link and read for yourself their often hysterical accounting of what they call their Sistory. Here's an excerpt to whet your curiosity:
1987
The Sisters went all out to greet the Pope during his visit in 1987. We convened a press conference on the plaza in front of St. Mary's Cathedral with hundreds of members of the international press present. Sister Vicious PHB marched up to the front of the cathedral posting demands on their huge doors with Lee Press On Nails. Martin Luther would have been proud! Live TV cameras carried our full-on exorcism of the Pope in Union Square and cut away just as the Pope was landing in a helicopter at the Golden Gate Bridge. JACKPOT! That, and a few other actions and antics, landed us the prestigious honor of being placed on the Papal List of Heretics. (Way to go gals!) The Seattle Sisters are Founder by Mother Theresa Nervina, being the fourth Order of SPI in the world.
Enjoy this behind the scenes video of some Sisters preparing themselves for and hitting the streets at the We Care Red Ribbon Campaign of AIDS Vancouver.
Their history has not been without controversy and its some of these controversies that are the reason I love them so. I once had a disagreement with a gay friend over some of the more outrageous moments of their activism. He felt that they too often crossed a line and actually caused damage to our efforts to fight discrimination. I countered that their very existence crossed a line and that is why they are so valuable. And besides, whose line did they cross? The authoritarian leadership of the Catholic Church which has sought to impose its dominance over the LGBT community in every despicable way imaginable? That was a line I was and still remain gladly willing to cross. They were standing up to the bullies and saying no more. What better way to do that than through the art of parody?
A short documentary featuring interviews with the Sisters at their Easter celebration:
Cut back to my first Easter Sunday spent in San Francisco in the spring of 1988. I had seen the Sisters fairly often roaming the Castro, but it wasn't until that event in Dolores Park that I came to fully understand that at the core of their stunning antics lay a fierce and effective force for good. All around me were people dropping bills into buckets, the collection going right back into the community that was so desperately suffering. As I paid my dollar and received my three pink dildos to toss into the cut out mouth on the huge picture of Jesse Helms, I knew then that our activism needn't be dry and pedantic. It could and should reflect the creative and fun-loving gay community in all its campy splendor.
note: I don't believe these nuns are officially Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, but they are a great example of the campy splendor I was talking about.
I have spent many Easter Sundays since celebrating at Dolores Park with the Sisters. They are now as much of the fabric of San Francisco as Fisherman's Wharf or sourdough bread. Their special brand of activism has spread world wide. I've encountered them at London's Gay Pride event and at LGBT events in Paris. Wherever they make their appearances they are foremost there to raise awareness and money for a host of important causes while never failing to bring some much needed laughter.
Happy Easter, Sisters. Keep bringing the joy.
Now on to Top Comments, Mojo, and the jotter's lovely PictureQuilt!
TOP COMMENTS
April 8, 2012
Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU
when you find that proficient comment.
From Ed Tracey:
In the diary by NYFM about the death of journalist Mike Wallace - Gottlieb related a story from a professor in journalism school, in which a strident Chris Wallace was told the equivalent of Lloyd Bentsen's famous quote ..... that he was no Mike Wallace.
From annetteboardman:
In her diary Teacher's Lounge: What tenure means to me she discovered this great comment by michael in chicago. She adds: This should be a diary, but for the time being, it is definitely a top comment.
And from your diarist, Steveningen:
Late this afternoon we were made aware of the heartbreaking passing of Julie Waters by KelleyRN2 affectionately known as Nurse Kelley in her diary Julie Waters has passed away.
On behalf of the entire Top Comments team, I would like to express our deepest condolences to her partner MoonWomyn and all those who loved her. Her voice at Daily Kos will be missed.
BentLiberal asked that I include this comment posted by Eileen B of Julie sharing her music.
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TOP MOJO
April 7, 2012
(excluding Tip Jars and first comments)
Got mik!
1) My Gut, And I've Been Saying This Since by webranding — 139
2) I Just Don't Believe This Case by webranding — 114
3) No, people liked him because he was first by lesliet — 109
4) Orange is the new Black - n/t by CaliSista — 109
5) Thank you, Sis Dee. by blue jersey mom — 100
6) could you update diary by Denise Oliver Velez — 100
7) This is what happens whe you let people know by AoT — 99
8) Hell to the yes! by rhetoricus — 88
9) Zimmerman family and their allies seem to have by entlord — 84
10) Nazis, not the KKK, although not much difference by AoT — 83
11) Victims were also all walking at the time by blue aardvark — 83
12) Not black by mapamp — 83
13) Rachel Maddow is an absolutely fantastic, by doc2 — 83
14) I could only think of eight rules. Maybe you by rebel ga — 79
15) Forget Right Wing Blogs by shanikka — 77
16) Let me be provocative: I blame Republicans, and by flitedocnm — 76
17) Nicely done, sistah! by Dave in Northridge — 74
18) And who knew Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz by Vita Brevis — 74
19) Ta-Nehisi Coates makes the point succinctly by kck — 72
20) Love the new signs and the fist is delicious! by cany — 72
21) I raised a Black daughter. by LeftOfYou — 70
22) I am not discussing guilt by Denise Oliver Velez — 69
23) Strongly agree: by rubyr — 69
24) Wow, I hate the idea of Recc'ing this diary, but by jdmorg — 69
25) Seconded. Olbermann's behavior here suggests his by camlbacker — 68
26) Mrs. ruleoflaw and I had fun and enjoyed meeting by ruleoflaw — 65
27) When the KKK showed up in Sanford, FL, I had a by roseeriter — 62
28) If compared to the rest of the media landscape, by Ray Pensador — 60
29) They cannot get away with this! n/t by BarackStarObama — 59
30) OK is one of the states by NYFM — 59
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TOP PHOTOS
April 7, 2012
Enjoy jotter's wonderful PictureQuilt™ below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. Have fun, Kossacks!
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