The L.A. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: GO VOTE!

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a leading-edge order of queer and trans drag nuns who believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty. Since first appearing in San Francisco on Easter Sunday in 1979, the Sisters have devoted themselves to community service, ministry and outreach, and promoting human rights and respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. The use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency, and guilt that chain the human spirit.

OUT FRONT had the opportunity to chat with Sister Harlot D Lite, a Sister from the Los Angeles chapter who conceived a campaign urging people to make sure they are registered and vote in the upcoming presidential election.

“In light of current events surrounding the murders of Black civilians at the hands of law enforcement, the Sisters have once again decided this is a time to incite political change,” she says. “The time is now to put an end to systematic institutional racism and the oppression of people of color by our political leaders and judicial system.

“For the 2020 election, the Sisters are releasing posters and video public service announcements to get out the vote. The Sisters have incorporated the colors of the Black Lives Matter movement with our winged Sister logo to stand in solidarity with this urgent human rights issue to help forge social justice. Our intention is to remind people that Black Lives Matter is at the heart of this election.”

The country is in unprecedented circumstances, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are trying to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and still do the work of social activism and public manifestation.

Continue below to find out what more Sister D Lite had to say.Hello, Sister Harlot D Lite! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me about the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Can you begin by telling us more about the organization and the work you do?
We are a 501©(3) organization here in Los Angeles, and we do a lot of charity work. From raising money for charities in need, to just kind of being out there in the public reminding people that it is okay to be you, whatever that may be. It is okay to be colorful. Be your unique self. For us, this is a great way to meet people in terms of talking to them and hearing each other’s story.

The Sisters here in Los Angeles started in 1995 as like another chapter of the San Francisco Sisters. They were a radical way to get out and around during that time, stirring the pot, and being extra. Then, that evolved with AIDS and all the different issues happening within the community throughout the last 40 year, so it became this big powerhouse of fundraising, public outreach, and community activism.

How long have you been involved with the Sister, and why did you join?
It will be three-and-a-half years since I joined, but in a way, I have always been a Sister. I think we all are in a way. For me, it actually came after the 2016 election. I found myself wanting to do more with the community and doing something productive while still be able to hang out and meet new people.

The Sisters are unique, wild, and funny, and this organization is a great way to help people be themselves. It’s magical. I thought maybe I can share that with someone else. Maybe I can help inspire them to do Sister work or be productive within the community.

What kind of impact have the Sisters personally made on your life?
They helped me find a purpose in life. They helped me share something deeper by allowing me to just get out there and be more comfortable in my own skin. When we do our drag, we like to be present with everyone. Some of us will be more quirky characters; some will be more colorful, and some will be more serious. For me, the Sisters have helped me become more comfortable in my own skin. Having a beard, headdress, makeup—you are going to be noticed right away.

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Your chapter recently launched a vote campaign project for the upcoming November election. Can you talk more about that?
Yes. We did this two years ago, but there was not as much push. We did it more locally with just social media. The main focus is to remind people to register to vote, and if they are able to vote, then they need to. There is no way that we can make change in our community, local, and national, without being involved. We can complain about what’s happening, but if we are not involved and engaged, then we are not progressing. So, we just want to get people involved and remind them that anyone can vote.

This time, we were trying to find more ways of community outreach. A lot of our way of public ministry, as we call it, when we are out and about with people, we are basically in your face and vice versa. With COVID, we have had to figure out different ways to still be involved and still get our message out. That it is okay to be you, whoever that may be. For us, it was about using imagery and also being in solidarity with our Black and trans brothers and sisters.

Are other chapters doing anything similar?
I believe so. The Portland Sisters, they have done their own kind of campaigning in terms of public messages and video. The Austin Sisters, they are doing live registration booths within their community. For the most part, at least of what I have noticed, more Sisters are being more involved this time around. They are finding ways to reach out to their own communities. Sisters in like Washington or Baltimore, they have been involved with White House protests over the past couple months. We want to keep that visibility and remind people that through all this chaos, we are still here.In your opinion, why is this election so important?
Oh, God. In my perspective, it just feels that there is so much at stake in terms of our freedom. Marriage, work, and being able to be who you are without someone writing a law against it. I think this is an important time. Not just for the LGBTQ community, but also people of color, Latinos, Asian. A lot of people are being affected.

However this ends up, we don’t know, and I think that is the scary part, but we need to be involved. This is the most important election in a long time because a lot has happened over he last couple of months, and it kind of feels like a lifetime. The main message is, everyone needs to get out and make a plan. Get your family; get your friends; get your mama; get your daddy. Just go out and vote.

Over 100 million people did not vote in the 2016 election. Why do you think that is?
There can be a number of reasons. Maybe not as much community involvement, maybe not getting the word out, maybe people think that their vote doesn’t matter, or they think that something like this would never happen. Look at where we are now.

My motto is, it never hurts to try it, or it never hurts to just do it. You are never going to get something out of something if you do not come and get involved. Maybe people weren’t feeling as important or that election wouldn’t affect them. Here we are now.

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You mentioned people thinking that their vote does not matter. What more do we need to do to change that perception?
I think just talking to each other as friends and a community. You know, learning about the issues that are happening. Not just nationally, but also within your local community. I have gotten more involved the last four to five years in regard to local elections. For me, that made me feel like I am part of the community more, rather than just kind of going out and getting groceries and doing my day-to-day.

I feel like I am part of what’s being put in front of us within the community. Whether it is local, state, or national, the more we get involved, the more we will benefit from it.

Do the Sisters usually get involved with political campaigns?
I believe in the last 40 years, I know the San Francisco house has been very involved. They have been kind of a great powerhouse in terms of doing a blueprint of activism. I believe Sister Boom Boom of the San Francisco house in the early 80s, I think she ran for political office. She ran, got her name on the ticket, and got many votes. In the past, you had to run as yourself. She stirred the pot. There is a great video on YouTube, and she is kind of talking about it, and it makes sense.

Why are we continuing to do the same thing over and over? Why not change it up a little bit? I know a lot of Sisters all over the country have been involved with protests, whether it be the Women’s March, Black Lives Matter or trans marches. There has always been some kind of Sister involvement in certain areas. We have experienced a lot more Sisters in the East Coast and South coming up and doing community work, which is great because we do feel that those communities need extra help. That extra visibility is great.

Why do you think a group like the Sisters of Perpetual Nuns is necessary?
Why not? Why not have us? One time, I was out at a bar doing public ministry and saw someone by themselves, and I went up and talked to them and had a conversation. It was great. I was just there to listen, and they were able to vent, and someone came over who they didn’t know, and they started connecting. I love bringing people together. That is a big thing for us, and reminding people that it is okay for you, whoever you may be, it is okay to be your fabulous selves. Be true to yourself.Is there anything else you would like to add before we wrap up?
Thank you for having me! And I want to remind everyone to please get out and vote. Make a plan; vote early if you can; know where to vote. There are sites online to track your ballot. If you can make it to the polls, go. Do whatever you can to be involved.

To stay up-to-date with the L.A. Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or visit lasisters.org. To learn more about the organization as a whole, visit thesisters.org.

Photos Courtesy of Sister Miracle of Hollywood Photo Studio