The Perth Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: An Open Letter to the Federation of Gay Games 1

An Open Letter to the Federation of Gay Games

Dear Members of the Gay Games Federation,

We warmly welcome you to Perth, Western Australia, and look forward to your upcoming visit. We hope your journey is safe and that you enjoy your time engaging with our local community.

We are writing to raise some pressing concerns that we believe should be considered as part of the site selection and planning process for the Gay Games in Perth. As members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a global organization with a long-standing presence in Western Australia since 1987, we have proudly contributed to the fight against HIV/AIDS, marriage equality, and the broader rights and recognition of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Unfortunately, we feel that the current representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in Perth — particularly in relation to Pride WA and the local Gay Games committee — does not reflect the diversity and inclusivity that the Gay Games are known for globally.

Several groups, including ourselves, have experienced exclusion from official events, such as the upcoming welcome function on July 3rd at Council House. Despite RSVPing, we were told that Pride WA would be "embarrassed" to have the Sisters present in an official capacity. This sentiment is deeply disappointing and contradictory to the founding principles of the Gay Games — inclusion, participation, and personal best.

Moreover, the broader context in Perth must also be acknowledged. Our community is facing increased levels of street violence and verbal abuse — particularly towards trans and visibly queer individuals. Perth has unfortunately gained a reputation as one of the more unsafe cities in Australia in this regard. There has been minimal action from local organizations to address these issues, and the silence can no longer be ignored.

We are concerned that the representation you are currently receiving does not reflect the full reality of life for LGBTQIA+ people in Perth — especially those who do not conform to mainstream or homonormative standards of visibility. It is not only the Sisters raising these concerns; others within the community have voiced similar frustrations around the exclusionary nature of recent Pride events, which have become dominated by corporate sponsors with little genuine engagement from LGBTQIA+ people themselves.

We would very much like the opportunity to meet with you  to share our experiences and offer a perspective that may otherwise go unheard. We strongly believe that true inclusivity means listening to all voices, especially those that challenge the status quo.

We are also in touch with Sister houses across the globe, who have expressed concern about the direction being taken here in Perth and asking them to approach Pride to reconsider our RSVP . In light of this, we are encouraging international support for the Denver bid for the 2030 Gay Games. After years of anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment under the Trump administration, we feel it is important that the Games send a powerful, unifying message by returning to the United States — a country where visibility and defiance remain acts of courage and resistance.

Our request is simple: that you meet with us, listen to our concerns, and encourage Pride WA and the City of Perth to embrace true inclusion, not just as a marketing slogan, but as a lived reality.

We thank you for your commitment to global LGBTQIA+ visibility and rights and hope that your time in Perth is meaningful, enlightening, and truly representative of all parts of our community.

With respect and solidarity,
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Perth, Western Australia

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