Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

The Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been operating out of the City of Angels since 1995, serving the queer community with education, resources, fundraising, entertainment, and hope. The sisters employ drag, iconoclasm, and humor to further their mission “to remove stigmatic guilt and promulgate omniversal joy.”

For decades of service, the Sisters were slated this year to be honored by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the team’s Community Hero Award. Unfortunately, conservative Christians and the far right saw the moment as a chance to attack, launching a national campaign against the Sisters and their appearance at the game.

“The Dodgers controversy brought the current sociopolitical crisis of our nation right home to our doorstep,” Sister Unity says. “Instantly, our work became urgently relevant once again. Our response was to again be our flamboyant selves exactly as we are, but this time organized for national engagement.”

That national engagement led to over $16,000 in donations, an influx of people wanting to join and continue their mission, widespread broadcasting of their message, and new opportunities to work with other groups. And the collective outrage over their exclusion led to a restoration of their honor, which the group received on the field at Dodgers Pride Night.

Amid the drama, the Sisters keep preaching the queer gospel. “Our message continues to be that we flaming drag nuns are here in the streets of the world being our own colorful selves, and that if we can do this, then there is room in the world for each person to be who they are, as they are, free from shame and guilt and filled with love and joy for your own lives.” @ladragnuns