The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are not a religious order.

While we use the imagery and terminology of nuns and other religious symbols, we do so as a form of satire and social commentary. The use of religious iconography serves several purposes:

1. Visibility: Our striking appearance captures attention and helps raise awareness about important social issues.

2. Satire and Humour: By adopting the personas of nuns, we challenge and critique the hypocrisy, intolerance, and discrimination often associated with organised religion.

3. Inclusivity and Support: We create a sense of community and belonging, providing support and advocacy for those who may feel marginalised or rejected by traditional religious institutions.

While some individual Sisters may hold personal religious or spiritual beliefs, the order itself is secular and focused on activism, community service, and creating positive change. We respect all faiths and beliefs, and our work is driven by compassion, love, and a commitment to equality for all.

Not at all. We ARE nuns. Not traditional nuns, mind you, but nuns in the post-modern sense of the word.

We recognise what "women of the cloth" of different traditions (Catholic, Buddhist, etc.) have done for centuries and we bring that same deep-seated "calling" to service, far beyond any convent gate or temple wall, and into communities that need healing, advocacy, financial support, or just a little unconventional joy.

Not all Sisters wear white face, but many choose to adopt this long-held Sister tradition.

It all started with one of the first founding members of the San Francisco order, Sister Ardhanarishvara (a.k.a Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch). She would often dress up with a painted white face for theatrical / artistic / spiritual purposes in her regular life, so the first time she dressed as a Sister in San Francisco, she painted up as usual.

It immediately became part of her look, and after a decade or so, the white face became one of the Sisters' signature looks.

It's called a coronet, and it's the base structure every Sister affixes their veil to.

The tradition of the coronet and veil became most famous/standardized with the Catholic Church but pre-dates it, originating with vestal virgins, pre-medieval fashion, and more.

Every individual house worldwide has a different coronet design, often reflecting what city that group serves. In the Haus of Nunsense, our coronet features a circlet of braided fabric and is known as 'the croissant'.

Some are, and some aren't. We do not presume, do not judge, and strive for a world that does the same.

Many Sisters have lived with, or are living with the virus, or have had the virus otherwise affect their own lives. This makes our fight for prevention, education, research - and a cure - a very personal one.

If you have a calling to volunteer your time to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community, then we want to hear from you!

The initial stages of joining involve attending our meetings and coming to events as a volunteer. We gladly welcome all races, creeds, genders, and sexual orientations.

Visit our Join the Haus section to find out more.

Many people find joy and deeper meaning in their lives by giving back to the world through different forms of volunteerism. However, the choice to specifically become a Sister is a special one.

Sisters have been LGBTQ+ activists and trail-blazers worldwide for over forty years. To be a Sister is to align yourself with a legacy of radical visibility, advocacy, and inclusion.

The choice to take lifelong vows of community service is enormous, but if this is the path for you, it's one of the most rewarding ones you'll ever experience.

Visit our Join the Haus section to find out more.

Absolutely! Donning a habit isn't for everyone, but there are still plenty of ways to get involved. The Haus has roles to suit a variety of preferences and commitment levels.

Visit our Join the Haus section to find out more.