The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are the leading-edge order of queer and trans nuns. They believe that all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty. Their mission is to propagate universal joy, expiate stigmatic guilt and serve the community. Currently there are orders of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, France Germany, Columbia, Switzerland, Scotland, Uruguay, and the United Kingdom. This podcast Sistory, All Things JOY, is specifically devoted to the extraordinary work that these sisters do across the globe that has such positive impact on the lives of folks living vulnerably in our communities. Join me, Chatty Jax for this playful and inspiring second episode in the series, Our Stories-Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Community Work, for a conversation with the following three delightful Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. It is such a privilege to hold space with Sister Merry Peter, Sister Merry Q, Contrary and Sister Visa DeKline. Sister Merry Peter found her calling among the Radical Faeries in 1987 when, experiencing burn out as a young queer activist, student, and community worker at the height of the AIDS crisis, a friend lent her his car and told her to drive to the Radical Faeries sanctuary of Short Mountain for renewal and space. There, she happened to meet one of the founders of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Missionary Position, and the two made an instant heart connection! On Summer Solstice, Sister “Mish” veiled her as Sister Merry Peter and charged her to return to Toronto as a missionary. In Toronto Merry Peter began street ministry with queer youth engaged in survival sex work, calling Bingo to raise money for AIDS charities, and became deeply involved in fighting for equality. After more than a decade, she moved to San Francisco in 1999 where she participated in the local community and supported the work of sisters of cross North America and the world. Her activism focuses on HIV-AIDS, queer youth, civil rights, immigrant rights, solidarity with two- spirit and trans communities, and social justice. She supports street- level health services to sex workers, legal aid for LGBTQIA+ refugees and resistance to police violence. Her life's work is raising joyful resistance, as a nun in the streets wearing size thirteen boots brandishing a bullhorn sprinkling fairy dust to bless the oppressed and confuse the powerful! A poet, writer, and former sex worker, she is an ordained minister, regularly performing weddings and funerals, and often facilitates community and leadership development projects. Merry Peter lives on the California coast with her husband of 21 years. Merry Q first met the Sisters in 1996. She spent the next 13 years before taking her veil and being born a nun during a Radical Faerie gathering in 2010. Once birthed, she quickly went to work founding the Vancouver Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. She infuses her ministry with her sense of social justice, compassion, and hope. Merry Q brings her training in theology, chaplaincy, and various earth- based spiritual traditions to her work with the Sisters. Sister Visa DeKline, is the second Sister of Perpetual Indulgence to be my guest for episode two- 'Sistory, All About The JOY' from Our Stories- Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Community Work podcast series!! Sister Visa DeKline (she/hers) is an Emeritus member of the Abbey of the Long Cedar Canoe who has been residing in Calgary since 2015. She has been actively working towards establishing a mission in Calgary while also staying involved with the worldwide order of queer nuns. She has served as Secretary and Chair of the United Nuns Privy Council, and has been fortunate enough to help guide several new houses towards their full profession.
