Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

My name is Guard Ian Avirtue, and I am a fully professed member of the Russian River Sisters.I always loved the Sisters when I saw them in San Francisco, from the first moment I saw them in the late 70s/early 80s. I worked on the Sonoma County Pride Committee with Sister Scarlet Billows and the late Postulant Guard Den of Joy in 2008-2009, and realized that there were Sisters in Sonoma County! Who knew?!?! I attended a bingo in March of 2009, and knew I wanted to be a part of this fabulous family. The next month, April 2009, I aspired to join. I took my time, and in April 2011, I became a fully professed member.

My first Mother was Sister Ida Claire, and my second mother was Sister Coppah Feel. My grandmother is Sister Vanna T Faire, my great-grandmother is Sister Frances A Sissy, and my great-great-grandmother is Sister Sparkle Plenty.

I enjoy my role in the Order as the official spanker, and I am a professional.

I do my own makeup and for the first 13 years of being Fully Professed (a Black Veil) I used a blue color to create a mask, red glitter kiss print on my right cheek, and a tear shaped jewel down my left cheek (for my late partner Rose). In 2010 I added a second tear-shaped jewel for my first boi, who had died suddenly in August of that year. Then just a few years later, I added a third tear-shaped jewel, for someone I had dated who also died very suddenly, Jeremiah. I used black for a mustache and goatee. Using the black, blue, and red of the leather pride flag was important.

Beginning at our Anniversary Party and Grants Give-Away in 2024, I first began using the red handprint over my mouth – the iconography of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. I asked a couple of our Order’s Saints who were Indigenous women if using that would be experienced as a negative, as I wanted to use my white privilege to bring awareness to the issue. And the Sisters were founded on activism.

Since 2011 I have held the following offices and chairnunships:
Master of the Quill
Master of the Purse
Delegate to the United Nuns Privy Council (UNPC)
Chair of the Accessibilititty Committee (for both the public to attend our events and for members of our Order to be able to fully participate in the Sisterhood)
Co-Chair of the Nuns of the Above Scholarships
Sentinel of Satchels and Keeper of Cloaks during public events
Board Member At Large