The Sisters of Pepetual Indulgence are an order of male, gay 'nuns' founded in San Francisco in the late 1970s. There are now thousands of nuns all over the world including 30 in Britain. The sisters include Sister Brigid Over Troubled Waters who was previously a monk, Sister Frigidity of the Nocturnal Emission and Sister Belladonna in Gloire de Marengo. The sisters are active campaigners in the gay and lesbian community and their role has expanded to cover issues such as the poll tax, the Gulf War and support for the miners. Derek Jarman was felt by the Sisters to be worthy of canonisation and proclaimed Saint Derek of Dungeness.