Into the Rabbit Hole:
Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence

I scrolled past a clip of a video on Tiktok and I needed to see more so I looked it up and I came across these things. 

https://legacyprojectchicago.org/person/jack-fertig-aka-sister-boom-boom

May I introduce,

Sister Mary Boom Boom 
-or-
Sister Rose of the Bloody Stains of the Sacred Robes of Jesus

AKA Jack Fertig
(February 21, 1955 – August 5, 2012)

Jack Fertig is a Legacy Member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Jack, known lovingly as Sister Boom Boom, studied political science at the University of Chicago, he moved to San Francisco in the mid-1970s and became a fixture in the local queer community after joining the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.  He performed at nightclubs and festivals and used his platform to raise awareness about issues affecting the queer community. He was also an advocate for gender and racial equality. Jack spoke out against the discriminatory practices of the Catholic Church and other religious institutions, arguing that everyone should have the right to worship and express their spirituality in their own way. Sister Boom Boom was also a fierce critic of the Reagan administration, which he believed was neglecting the needs of the most vulnerable members of society

But Sister Mary Boom Boom's impact stretched beyond entertainment. In the early 1980s, San Francisco was hit hard by the AIDS epidemic, and many members of the queer community were struggling to get access healthcare and support services. Sister Boom Boom along with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence stepped in to help. They organized fundraisers and events to raise money for AIDS research and support organizations.

Sister Boom Boon even ran for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She used "agitprop" campaigning tactics to gain attention and spread her message. Sister Boom Boom brought humor and raised awareness on issues she felt were being ignored by other candidates. She won 23,124 votes with the occupation listed as "Nun of the Above". She placed 8th out of the 5 that won. (I think that's pretty notable).

 She later tried to campaign for mayor in the 1983 recall election against incumbent Dianne Feinstein, but San Francisco then passed an ordinance that required candidates to use only legal names on the ballot. (Always trying to surpress us as ususal).
This was referred to as the "Sister Boom Boom law".
Even after all this time, I think that she was defiantly a threat to normative cis-hetero patriarchy  and the system as a whole. 

Despite facing opposition and harassment from some members of the public, Sister Boom Boom remained committed to her cause. She continued to perform and speak out until Jacks unfortunate death on August 5, 2012. He died in his San Francisco home from liver cancer at age 57.

1982

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was a non-profit organization founded in San Francisco in 1979. The organization was inspired by the nuns of the Catholic Church, but their beliefs and practices aren't aligned with any specific religion. They were a group of drag queens who were dedicated to promoting human rights, respect for diversity, and spiritual enlightenment. 

They are known for their colorful outrageous costumes and makeup, which included elements of Catholic iconography and ritual. They are also known for their charity work, organizing fundraisers and events to support a wide range of causes, including LGBTQ+ rights, HIV/AIDS research and support services, and homelessness.

The Sisters are guided by these set of tenets:

The right to non-judgmentalism, diversity, and personal freedom.
The right to organize for the common good and devote ourselves to public service.
The right to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt.
The right to challenge authority and advocate for the underdog.
The right to promulgate community-based spirituality.

💗

The Sisters were even memorialized on Mona Caron’s Market Street Railway Mural!

https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Time-Travelling_Wall
(click the link to see more about the mural, different rabbit hole)
(but it's real cool)

Today, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are "a leading-edge Order of queer and trans nuns who believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty".

The organization has grown over the years and now has several chapters. The Sisters continue to use their platform to promote social justice and raise awareness about issues affecting marginalized communities. They still provide community and support for queer people that feel ostracized by mainstream society by engaging in political activism, and challenging discriminatory laws and practices. They have been at the forefront of the fight for marriage equality, and have spoken out against laws that discriminate against transgender individuals.

I think the group has it's place in queer history given their dedication to justice, solidarity, and self expression. 

I just thought this was neat and I wanted to share. 

Here's some more links, And I really suggest looking into them:

https://www.thesisters.org

https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Sister_Boom_Boom_and_JCC

https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=The_Sisters_of_Perpetual_Indulgence,Inc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Boom_Boom#:~:text=Sister%20Boom%20Boom%2C%20also%20known,–%20August%205%2C%202012).

Thanks for going down the Rabbit Hole with me.

*Also I'm sure you noticed but I used both she & he pronouns to refer to Jack/Sister Boom Boom. If this is incorrect lmk and i'll update the post*

Mucho Amor,

💗Kari