Saint Stormy? In San Francisco, Anything's Possible

SAN FRANCISCO—The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been around for nearly 40 years, having begun largely in response to Religious Right "missionaries" invading the city's Castro District in an attempt to "reform" the many gays and other sexual independents who'd made the area their home base. Things came to a head in August of 1980 when about a dozen men dressed in 14th-century Belgian nun's robes and habits, including one named "Sister Missionary Position," chased the unwanted preachers out of the neighborhood, all to the cheers of gay supporters. That group of nuns became the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," an organization now international in scope, which engages in charity work—shortly after formation, they held a fundraiser for SF's Metropolitan Community Church Cuban Refugee Program, and have done similar charity work since—protest and street performance—and their most recent action is one the adult entertainment community can easily get behind: They canonized adult actress/director/Trump plaintiff Stormy Daniels. "The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence recognize individuals who exemplify the Order’s commitments to Activism, community service, and the advancement of human rights with our highest honor: Sainthood," reported the organization's Sister Roma on November 10, the day after the "sanctification." "Stormy Daniels’ bravery in sharing her story and speaking truth to power earned her the respect and admiration of the Sisters. We surprised her last night at her appearance at the Penthouse Club in North Beach in San Francisco and proclaimed her 'Saint Tempestuous, Eye of the Hurricane of Truth and Stormer of the Barricades of Injustice!' She was extremely overjoyed to see us and seemed truly humbled by the honor." "For upholding and promoting the ideals, beliefs and convictions held sacred by the Order," the sainthood proclamation reads, "For creating positive changes in our world by honoring The Mind, The Body & The Spirit, For perpetually dedicating untold hours of freely expended energy in service to The Order and to The Community, For promulgating Universal Joy! and expiating stigmatic guilt everywhere you go, Be It Decreed That From This Day Forward That Your transgressions shall be reduced to mere fluff in the eyes of the Goddess who knows all and forgives all, Your good works shall be remembered in honor and in perpetuity, You shall forever stand as a pillar of strength in The Community, You are hereby perpetually allied with the Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc." According to Sister Roma, Daniels was "thrilled" to have been given the honor. No word yet on whether her future movies will be attributed, "Directed by St. Stormy."