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MEET THE SISTERS All love, all joy - no guilt Over the next few months you will get to meet the individual members of the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and take a look into the motivation and dedication that drives the make-up-n-habit-wearing nuns. The GCSPI is a missionary house of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a worldwide non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for causes within their individual communities. It all started in San Francisco in 1979 with five men. Upset with the way gays were being treated they decided shake things up. They wore nun’s habits and marched from the Castro down to the beach trying to raise money and awareness for different causes and organization. According to GCSPI member Sister Odora, during the fall of 2006, she along with Sisters 3M, Mischief, Atopa, Bend, Frankly, B’neatha, May, Levia, Isis, Fistus and Novice Guard Lyx began forming what was known as the Missionary Order of the Grand Canyon Sisters. In 2007 the order of the Grand Canyon Sis- By Luis Garcia and Abbess Odora Flatulotta D'Pew ters of Perpetual Indulgence came into being. It was an exciting year for the “first class” earning missionary work of nuns, fundraising, and how to attend to the community with the promise of getting rid of stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy. “Being a Sister is a calling a person must feel,” says Sister Marie Elle E’Phant. “Much like it is for any person who helps the community. It is the person’s own path and they are the one who determines what they want to do and who they want to help. It is so much more than just putting on a dress and painting a pretty face.” Those are an important part of being a Sister but I think the most important part is the empowerment of the LGBTQIA community. Our mantra is “All Love, All Joy, No Guilt.’” According to GCSPI President/Abbess Sister Odora Flatulotta D’Pew, the Sisters had a great connection to other SPI. “Sisters from LASPI had been visiting and blessing Arizona Central Pride, now known as Phoenix Pride for years,” said Sister Odora. “In April 2005, the Manager of Prevention (soon to be Sister Odora) while working at Body Positive, Inc. hosted Father Diesel Dogma in that year’s pride parade float. Throughout this year Father hosted several bucket runs raising money for HIV/AIDS in the Phoenix community.” Sister Marie told ‘N Touch that even though the Sisters started in San Francisco the organization has let every house develop on their own. “This is because the issues that are happening in San Francisco are not necessarily the same issues we are having here in Phoenix. That being said, I believe that we continue the work that the Sisters in San Francisco started by working closely with the HIV organizations. We promote smart sexual practices by handing out condoms. The Sisters were one of the first organizations to publish a brochure on safer sex and it is important not to forget that history,” said Sister Marie. Today, the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence House has grown to be a powerful and connected force throughout Arizona. There is a fully professed member who lives in Tucson as well as another member who calls Casa Grande their home. Events take place throughout Arizona from Bisbee, a glitters blow from the Mexico border to Sedona and the Navajo Nation. Currently, there are twenty-nine active fully professed members with six Emeritus members who are scattered around the United States. In Arizona the GCSPI recognizes Sister personas, Father personas and Guard personas. They currently have nine Saints connected with their house and five Angles. Sister Wisteria Wisenhymer is their Nun of the Above and is honored as their team lead for AIDS Walk each year. Sister Wisteria was a dedicated volunteer for AIDS Services in Phoenix for many years and was an avid advocate for Agape and Joshua Tree Feeding Programs. “The GCSPI have had their challenges working with more conservative organizations in the community,” says Sister Marie. “The strength of GCSPI is that we are very diverse and have connections that cross many divides in our community. The biggest changes within GCSPI are reflective of the changes that GCSPI has influenced in the community. As the Sisters work though challenges faced both as individuals and as a group, there have been change in GCSPI that allows for members to process and be a community leaders promoting diversity. As for myself I continue to grow to embrace these challenges and each day I feel that my calling as a Sister is strengthened with each and every experience.” Sister Marie also told ‘N Touch that there is an important need for the Sister in Phoenix. “Who do you know that can walk into a room and the room brightens up instantly. Part of our mission statement is to ‘expiate stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy’. The sisters have become a fixture in the LGBT community because of the work the San Francisco Sisters have done and continue to do. “We are gender benders. Dresses, makeup, and beards are a common part of the Sisters. We challenge the norms. We are there to comfort those who are hurting and wounded, and be a voice for those who have none. We are also there to challenge those who ignore the rights of the minority.” For more information about the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence please visit azsisters.org 14 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com news / politics / business / opinion
UNSUNG HEROES Unsung Hero: Bill Soroka This month’s ‘N Touch News Magazine’s unsung hero is Bill Soroka. He is a serial entrepreneur working hard to create a dream life of love, contribution, travel, and legacy. He’s currently a managing partner in two major Arizona ventures, Alternative Poker Tour and Scottsdale Rental By Owner (scottsdalerbo.com), and has begun the re-launch of his true passion, The Billion Acts of Kindness Project. He’s also a recent addition to the board of One Voice Community Center and serves as their Fundraising Chair. How did you first get involved with the community? How did I get involved with the community? Well, when I first came out, like a lot of young gay guys (and girls too, I am sure), I threw my whole support to making sure the bars could stay in business. They got a donation from me every night. And then, as I grew older, the community grew, and ridiculous things like prop 8 happened and it kindled a fire inside me. I was so blessed to be in the middle of some of the most passionate leaders of the community at the time (and many still are). I was so inspired, so pissed off, and it felt amazing. That’s when H.E.R.O. was born. Having a voice in the start of a grassroots movement like that, being part of that Equal Rights Rally downtown, is one of the most cherished memories of my life. More important than anything though, is that being a part of it caused a paradigm shift for me. I realized that the people that made stuff happen weren’t the ones “somewhere else”. They’re right here within us. I try not over use cheesy quotes, but this period of my life was defined by Margaret Mead, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. In fact, it is the only way it ever has.” I look back and see a tiny role that I played. And, itchanged my life forever. What made you want to be part of the One Voice Community Center? Unity has always been a goal for me. I am often told it’s a Utopic one. Regardless, I got involved with One Voice Community Center because it’s well positioned to be an incredible hub for the Arizona Community and could therefore serve to unify and bridge the gaps. Many times, our greatest gifts are our greatest foe, so as Fundraising Chair, I aim to bring unique and rewarding events that create long term sustainability to the Center, and also bring together the different sublayers within our community. The current Board is absolutely incredible and on board with creating beneficial programming, educational opportunities and win/win relationships to the whole news / politics / business / opinion By Luis Garcia community and beyond. Tell me about the Alternative Poker Tour league you helped start. Alternative Poker Tour is another venture I have with four other amazing partners. Poker’s popularity within the gay community in Phoenix is the strongest we’ve been able to find in the whole world. We play at six different venues, seven days a week! Not only do I love to play the game, I love the partners, I love the players. I have more friends that I have met around these tables then anywhere else in my life. They’re fun, diverse, smart, talented,and filled with personality. What I really love though, is that it’s easy to integrate a poker company like this into my life and plan. Our slogan is, “Open Tables, open Minds”. All are welcome. Everyone is equal at the poker table- I’ll take your chips just as surely as I will take anyone’s chips! You seem like the Energizer Bunny. What keeps you going? This is the question of questions, Luis. It may look like I am the Energizer Bunny, and in a lot of ways I am (except I can’t pull off pink). The reality is, there are lots of times when I “don’t wanna”, and sometimes I don’t. But most of the time, I hold the vision of what I want my life to be and the legacy I want to leave behind, and that gets me fired up and going. Man, this stuff sounds so More News Online! NTOUCHAz.COm cheesy! And, it’s also the truth. I work hard on my brain. To have the thoughts that serve me. To do the actions that serve the vision. I have more flaws and “failures” then attributes and “successes”, and the key for me is not making that mean anything. It is what it is. So what are you up to know? Speaking of unique opportunities, I am excited about our Champagne & Gloryholes event coming up at the end of April and beginning of May. Champagne speaks for itself, and the Gloryhole is an actual term used by glass artists as they create. We’ve partnered up with the guys over at Circle 6 Studios, a local glass blowing group, and we’ve created an event to teach beginners some of the basics of glass blowing while they create a gift for their mom, or anyone, really. We’ve designed it so there is plenty of time to ship your masterpiece! Guests can also indulge in sweets baked right here in Phoenix, and enjoy some champagne on the afternoon of Saturday, April 28 or Sunday, May 6. Contact One Voice, myself, or find our event on Facebook. ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 15
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