2024 Manifestations
Wheatsfield Co-op Groovy Golden Jubilee
Ames, IA
The final Stop on our Ames Invasion was the Wheatsfield Co-op Groovy Golden Jubilee. Wheatsfield has been an Ames staple since 1974 and offers food, services and education to cultivate a healthy environment and socially just community. To celebrate 50 years of service, they threw a party featuring local vendors, community groups, local artists, and cake. Lots and lots of cake. We had an amazing time and had some great conversations with a new community that wasn't always sure what to make of us. It was a good reminder of why we do what we do and that our work is always needed.
September Bear Happy Hour & Variety Show
The Garden Nightclub, De Moines
The Capital Bears held a variety show during September Happy Hour to kick off fundraising for their annual Adopt-a-Family program. This is the Bears 7th year of helping ensure that local families have a brighter and happier holiday season. Sister Helda Magnum joined other local performers to put on a show for the children and helped raise over $500.
Ames Pride
Ames, IA
Next stop on our Ames Invasion: Ames Pride. Ames Pride was established out of a need to build community for LGBTQIA+ people in Ames, Iowa State University and the surrounding area. They are committed to building relationships within the community and creating bridges with other groups in the Ames area.
This was our second year attending Ames Pride and we loved every minute of it. We met so many great people, explored the library (and the Tartes became card carrying members) and then rocked out to Leslie Hall. We’re already looking forward to next years festivities.
More information on Ames Pride can be found here:
Queers & Beers
London Underground, Ames
We ventured north in September to Ames, IA. For our first event, the ISU LGBTQA Employee Network invited The Priority to Queers and Beers, a monthly gathering at London Underground, the unofficial gay bar of Ames. We had a great time mingling and met some amazing new friends. We can’t wait to go back and keep spreading joy.
More information on the ISU LGBTQA Employee Network and London Underground can be found here:
ILW
Embassy Suites, Des Moines
ILW hosted it’s 36 annual celebration of the leather and fetish community in Iowa, hosted by The Blazing Saddle, Iowa’s oldest gay bar located in the East Village of Downtown Des Moines.
The Priory was on hand to help out however we could. We worked clothing check for the dungeon and dance parties both nights, and we saw some things. Mind you, we wanted to see those things, why else does one work a clothing check?
Saturday night we were honored to give the blessing to start the event off right. We emphasized inclusivity and diversity in all aspects of the event. We were joined on stage by members from the City of Fountain Sister and several other Sister houses joined the debauchery of the weekend.
We look forward to supporting the new title family however we can and wish then an amazing year!
Stage photos credit: JD Fetish Photography
Buddy's Corral Last Call Karaoke
Buddy's Corral, Des Moines
We mingled, we sang, we made fools of ourselves. And not necessarily in that order!
After 20 incredible years, Buddy's Corral in the East Village sadly closed its doors on August 17, 2024. Buddy's was a staple to the Des Moines community and offered a safe space to all who needed it.
The Priory ventured out the night before to grace the stage with our unique singing styles. We met some amazing people and sang the night away with a packed crowd.
The entire community will miss Buddy’s and we thank them for offering a home for so many over the years.
Priory Meet & Greet
August 11: Facebook Live
We meeted, we greeted, we answered all the burning questions (we really should get a cream for that).
We are on the brink of being elevated to a fully-professed house of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and wanted to give our friends (and frenemies) one last chance to harass, scratch that, get to know us better.
Ever wondered how many nuns it takes to change a lightbulb? Or how clown nuns practice their juggling? Or why oblong pancakes are superior to regular pancakes?
If you missed the event, we forgive you, Check out the video below to get a glimpse of our insanity as we answered all the silly, strange, borderline un-nunlike, and semi-serious questions from our stalkers across the country.
Seriously, y’all are obsessed with us. It’s ok though, we love the attention😍
Direct Link:
July CommUNITY Gay-me Night with The Q Exchange
Park Fair Mall - Des Moines, IA
The Priory was delighted to join our friends, The Q Exchange, for their monthly CommUNITY Gay-me Night. The Q Exchange is a local A LGBTQ+ organization that provides a safe, affirming and welcoming space for the community to gather and connect. They host a variety of events each month from group meetings, to cooking classes, to game night, and much more.
The Q Exchange has been a joy to partner with and we look forward to many more events with them.
DMGMC & SFGMC Concert - All You Need is Love & Music
Lauridsen Amphitheater - Des Moines, IA
The Priory was honored to work with the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus as they hosted the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus for a joint concert in Des Moines - All You Need is Love & Music. We mingled with the choruses before the show and instantly fell in love with the SF Chorus. They were SUPER excited to see us based on the 30+ gay gasps we heard upon approaching. They were excited to take a photo with us and comically apologized for Sister Roma. Their words, not ours 😂
The "Love Tour" by SFGMC brought their message of unity, love, and hope to various communities in the heartland. From July 7-9, 2024, the 300-member Chorus, led by Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg, toured Iowa and Nebraska, partnering with local LGBTQ choruses and advocacy groups at each stop. The tour concluded with a headline performance at the 2024 GALA Chorus Festival in Minneapolis where the DMGMC also be performed.
June Bingo - Priory Fundraiser
The Blazing Saddle - Des Moines, IA
Our third bingo of the year was a fundraiser for The Priory.
We had a great turnout and had a lot of bingo virgins. We had a blast mingling with the crowd and raised over $600. This money will be used to provide more fun and frivolity as we gear up for our next bingo in October.
Rolling into Pride
Skateland - Des Moines, IA
We came, we rolled, we didn’t break any major bones! Snyder Strategies, LLC hosted a free skating event at Skateland for Central Iowa Rainbow Families and all members of our community. Novice Sister Lei Meianna Davenporte and Novice Guard Garrison laced up their skates and were quickly zooming around the track. Novice Sister Sue Filet laced up and made it all of 5 feet before remembering that she still did not know how to skate. 😂
There were a few, minor wipeouts during the event but no one sustained any permanent injuries. The event had a great turnout and everyone had a blast. We can’t wait until next year to attend again. And hopefully work on our skating skills before then 🙂
Coffee & Sister Story Time
Highland Park Neighborhood - Des Moines, IA
We were thrilled to be invited to The Little Book, a new, queer owned, bookstore in the Highland Park neighborhood in Des Moines. Opened in February 2024, they “aim to be a space where queer families know they are safe, welcome, and celebrated.”
We started the day with coffee at The Slow Down Coffee Co., and end up on an impromptu tour of some local business. We then made our way to The Little Book to continue their Pride celebration that featured local queer artists and performers: musical storytime with Craig Peterson, a gallery show by Cat Rocketship, and storytime/sing-along with The Priory. To top things off, The Little Book donated a portion of their proceeds from that day to the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund!
More information on the the businesses we visited can be found here:
DMGMC - United in Song
Temple Theater - Des Moines, IA
The Priory enthusiastically supported the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus (DMGMC) during their "United in Song" concert at the Temple Ballroom in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, June 15th. Novice Sister Helda Magnum, a classically trained vocalist, initiated contact with the choir to offer assistance at their events, which evolved into her novice project.
We are thrilled about future collaborations, including an upcoming special concert in July where they will support the joint performance of the DMGMC with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.
Capital City Pride
Des Moines, IA
The Priory took Capital City Pride by storm and were joined by some of our lovely sister houses: Cornhole Sisters: Convent of Aksarben, City of Fountains Sisters, The Emerald City Sisters, Abbey of the Sacred Ruby Slippers and MOPI. We spread joy and frivolity around the pride grounds on Friday night and were incognito for Saturday festivities. We also snuck in a Conclave and Sister Clara's house Saturday afternoon.
Sunday we were up bright and early to prepare for the Pride parade! We unveiled a Priscilla, Queen of the Desert themed float and marched a gaggle of clown nuns and guards down Grand Avenue. We twirled for the Beaverhausen's and put on a spectacle for all the queers and allies!! To top it all off, we took home first prize for the best Pride entry! We're still exhausted but it was a magical weekend for all.
More information on the Capital City Pride and our sister Houses can be found here:
May Sister Story Time & Community Ministry
Sidekick Coffee & Book & downtown Iowa City, IA
We took Sister Story Time on the road and traveled east to Iowa City for the day. We read to the children and then the clowns descended on downtown Iowa City for some food and frolicking in the Pedestrian Mall.
May Community Ministry and Karaoke
East Village, Des Moines
A few nuns got a wild hair up their habits and decided to have a rapid fire ministry session across the East Village. They started out at Bear Happy Hour, then popped over to Buddy's Corral for some karaoke (we really need to learn the lyrics to "I'm Coming Out!"), checked out Trash Disco night at Black Sheep and closed up the night at The Blazing Saddle.
LOIA presents: Mister Iowa City, Iowa City Diva, & Mx. Iowa City Pageants
First Avenue Club, Iowa City
More information on Iowa City Pride and LOIA can be found here:
April Bingo: One Iowa Fundraiser
The Blazing Saddle
April Bear Happy Hour: IA Bear Fundraiser & Bar Ministry
The Garden Nightclub, The Blazing Saddle
TREND Magazine Fundraiser
Iowa State University Memorial Union
Imperial Court Of Iowa Leather & Lace Ball
The Garden Nightclub
St. Patrick's Day Beer Bust
The Blazing Saddle
March Capital Bears Happy Hour, Bar Ministry
The Garden Nightclub, The Blazing Saddle
Sash Bash
Studio 13, Iowa City
February Bingo - Iowa Safe Schools Fundraiser
The Blazing Saddle
January Gear Night
The Blazing Saddle