On Easter Sunday 1979, four men set out into the city of San Francisco wearing traditional nun's habits. By using sincerity and joy mixed with satire to counter the prevailing homophobia and shame, they inspired others to join their cause, thus forming the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Thanks to their focus on service and Queer liberation, and a down-to-earth approach to safer sex education, it didn't take long for the movement to spread to other cities and become worldwide.

In Seattle, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had its beginnings on July 14, 1996, when a group of five fully professed sisters and one novice sister got together to form a new house and took the name the Abbey of St. Joan. Driven by the call to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt, they gathered for their first event: a group baptism at Seattle's Madison Park beach. In a unique Sisterly way, it blended spectacle and sincere action to mark the beginnings of the Abbey's work and service to Seattle's Queer community.

Since then, the Abbey has grown to be a beacon of joy. From carrying the Pride flag during the Seattle Pride Parade to partnering with various organizations throughout the year — helping to raise money for our granting fund and promoting safer sex practices — the Abbey's commitment to community service and upliftment has never wavered. 

This year is particularly special as we are celebrating our 30th anniversary. If you would like to see what we are doing, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or on our website at www.theabbey.org.