#The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Abbey of St. Joan

[adamthealien]

Last month, I was invited to play behind the lens, taking photographs to promote upcoming events put on by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan. As a photographer, I absolutely loved working on this project! The experience was both fun and creatively fulfilling. Pictured here is the first completed promo using one of my photos! In just two sessions, we've already snapped a bunch of promotional photography for fun events occurring now through at least November. I'm pretty dang proud of this particular shot. It's definitely one of my personal favorites from the recent photoshoots!

Kai-Kai is a new monthly event from The Abbey of St. Joan, the nonprofit local Seattle chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Every third Saturday they're hosting themed competitions, starting with Amateur Stripper Night on August 17th at Massive, from 8:00-10:00 PM. Door entry is a suggested $10, and you can register to compete for prizes for just a suggested $5.

For those who don't know, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are an international group of queer, charitable activists that emerged on the scene in San Francisco during Easter of 1979. They're a wonderful group of people who take on a variety of approaches to aiding, educating, uplifting, and fostering connections in the communities they serve, all while celebrating a life that embraces fun and sensuality.

My first exposure to The Sisters was at a Trans Pride march and rally in Portland toward the end of The Before Times (honestly, everything before the pandemic seems like lifetimes ago, now). They caught my attention not only because of their flamboyant nun attire, but because of the simple actions they took to make the rest of us feel safe and comfortable. With their outfits and extravagant makeup, they were visible in a way that made the rest of us, if we so wished, better able to blend in. And when the transphobes came, waving signs of hatred, The Sisters took flags and banners and created a visual barrier between the bigots and the rest of us.

As someone still very new to going out in public as my whole self, expressing myself in ways I’d been made to fear, I don’t know how to fully express what that simple action meant to me. I was nervous to be there, to participate without actively hiding some part of who I was. The Sisters helped me feel secure in the knowledge I was not as vulnerable as I felt, because I was surrounded by a community of people who were looking out for one another.

In my short time in Seattle, I’ve been very lucky to begin getting to know the Sisters of The Abbey beyond just a comforting presence at Pride. They’re a driving force in bringing people together. They take their place in the community seriously, while also knowing how to cut loose and get people to have some fun. It’s hard to forget a good time spent with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

So if you're in or near the Seattle area, come on out to Kai-Kai at Massive on August 17th for a good time with great people! Enter to compete and show off your sexy stripper skills or just buy a drink and enjoy the show!