The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is an anti-Christian LGBT activist group that is known for its controversial demonstrations and events. ¹ While dressing themselves in the garb of Catholic nuns, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have held mock masses, burned effigies of the late Pope John Paul II, held public demonstrations with nude activists, and hosted sex-themed events. ²

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence hosts sex-themed, pro-pagan, and anti-Christian events to promote LGBT advocacy. ³ With a motto of “Go forth and sin more,” it seeks to provoke religious groups and social conservatives. ¹

History

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence originated from a 1979 demonstration where its founders Ken Bunch, Fred Brungard, and Baruch Golden wore Catholic nuns’ habits acquired from an Iowa convent after requesting them for a “Sound of Music” show. ⁴ The demonstration took place on Easter in the Castro district of San Francisco, California. One participant also drew attention as he carried a firearm, reported to be for protection. ¹

In 1980, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence formally organized their fraternal order, having members dress styled in the image of Catholic nuns while adopting names that often include sexual innuendos. ¹ The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and other critics note that Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s mimicking of Catholicism is deliberately anti-Catholic and derogatory. ²

The group states that its early organizers sought to chase “hate-mongering Christians out of the Castro and the Polk neighborhoods” and promote LGBT causes. As it gained notoriety for its demonstrations, it used the growing attention to begin fundraising for its first annual “Gay Games” and its “Gay Men’s” chorus group in 1981, eventually leading to fundraising for what it claims to be the first benefit for an AIDS organization. ¹

Throughout the early 1980s, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence gained national attention for AIDS awareness campaigns. ¹

In 1986, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence participated in the annual Pride parade in San Francisco by hosting a 40-foot penis-shaped float. In response to backlash, it later conceded that the stunt was “Ruining it for everyone.” ¹

In 1987, when then-Pope John Paul II visited San Francisco, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence protested the event by demonstrating a mock “exorcism” of the Pope, burned an effigy of him, and referred to Jesus as the “Condom Savior.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence received national attention for the protests and claims to have been subsequently placed on the Papal List of Heretics, which it has maintained to be an accomplishment, though no such formal list exists. ^{1 2}

At the 2003 Pride parade, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had a member dress up as a pope while locked in a cage simulating sexual acts. The float also included a jab at then-President George W. Bush by having a masked “Texas political cowboy” sit on a “cock rocket.” ¹

Activities

In July 2023, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence hosted a “Drag Story Hour” at Sour Cherry Comics in San Francisco, California. The event targeted children and featured members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as the hosts. ⁵

In keeping with the tradition of its founding, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence host an annual “Easter in the Park” LGBT-themed event that provides children’s activities while hosting drag shows and its “Hunky Jesus” pageant. It also hosts a “Bonnet contest” where its members dress in nun-themed drag outfits, and it claims its anti-Christian demonstrations are a form of LGBT advocacy. ⁶

In May 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers were the subject of controversy after announcing they were going to award the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence a community hero award. After criticisms from conservatives, the Dodgers responded by rescinding the award before recommitting to the award after pushback from LGBT advocates. ⁷

Safety First Sexy Second is a campaign organized by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence that advertises strategies transgender people can use to reduce the risk of violence when partaking in casual sex with strangers. The campaign also includes mental health, domestic violence, and crisis intervention resources. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence partnered with Liberty Lane Films, The Academy, and SFMTA to conduct its Safety First Sexy Second campaign. ⁸

Membership

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s membership is structured as a fraternal order that directs initiates to undergo a tiered trial system. During the multiple levels of their trial, initiates are required to attend regular meetings at which time they have to study the “history” of the organization for at least six to eight hours and advance through the tiers after the “Membership” approves through a vote. As they advance, “Sisters” are required to be sponsored by a “Mother” and have changing requirements for what elements of a Catholic nun’s habit and makeup they wear. ⁹

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence advertises the activities of its members as engaging in a “ministry of presence.” It reports it engages the public by providing lectures to students and “informing the cute boy at the bar about the risks of unsafe sex.” ⁹

There are various offshoot “Houses,” or branches, of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence across the country and internationally that it reports act “autonomously” but share the same mission as the San Francisco House. Each House also maintains its own fraternal processes. ¹⁰

Grantmaking

In 2025, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence listed La Clinica de La Raza as a grantee. It reported providing funding for La Clinica de La Raza’s school-based gender-reassignment program in partnership with the Oakland Unified School District. ^{11 12}

Leadership

Max Fairbee is the treasurer, vice president, and a board member of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. ¹³ Since 2016, he has been employed by CalFresh Healthy Living as a community education specialist, conducting nutritional and health programs for elderly persons, and previously worked for Wabash Valley Alliance as a mental health technician. ¹⁴

Financials

In 2023, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence reported $300,958 in total revenue, $53,826 of which came from fundraising events. ^{15 16} It also reported $166,225 in total expenses, including $117,598 in program service expenses. ^{17 18}

1. “Sistory.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://www.thesisters.org/sistory.
2. “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.” Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.catholicleague.org/sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence/.
3. “Events.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://www.thesisters.org/blog.
4. “Sisters’ 20 years of Perpetual Indulgence.” March 25, 1999. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/sisters-20-years-of-perpetual-indulgence-3239071.php.
5. Mistress of the Web. “July 23rd: Drag Story Hour at Sour Cherry Comics.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. July 11, 2023. https://www.thesisters.org/post/july-23rd-drag-story-hour-at-sour-cherry-comics.
6. “The Sisters – Easter in the Park 2025 – Public Volunteer Opportunities.” Bugle Volunteers. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://app.buglevolunteers.com/registration?id=9cb1a365-1c00-4930-8ea5-cfe6e909d19a.
7. Carter, Erik. “For Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, being a drag nun transcends Dodgers drama. It’s a calling.” LA Times. May 25, 2025. https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-05-25/the-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence-are-on-a-mission-to-spread-universal-joy-despite-the-dodgers-drama.
8. “Safety First Sexy Second.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Accessed October 28, 2025. https://www.thesisters.org/safetyfirst.
9. “Become a Nun.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://www.thesisters.org/become-a-nun.
10. “United States Houses.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://www.thesisters.org/world-orders.
11. “Sisters Give It Away!​” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://www.thesisters.org/grants.
12. “Roosevelt Health Center.” La Clinica de La Raza. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://laclinica.org/location/roosevelt-health-center/.
13. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Inc. 2023. Part VII.
14. “Max Fairbee.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-fairbee/.
15. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Inc. 2023. Part I, Line 12.
16. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Inc. 2023. Part VIII, Line 8a.
17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Inc. 2023. Part I, Line 18.
18. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Inc. 2023. Part III, Line 4e.